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LIBRARY  OF  THE  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


PRINCETON.  N.  J. 


PRESENTED  BY 

Princeton  University  Library 


BX  8080  .M3  M34 
Mann,  Emma  T. 

Memoir  of  the  life  and  work 
of  William  Julius  Mann 


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MEMOIR 


OP  THE 


LIFE  AND  WORK 


./ 


WILLIAM  JULIUS    MANN 


TOGETHER  WITH  A  FEW 


SERMONS  AND   SHORT  EXTRACTS. 


t-CYNVY^O.     \-    n 


OLnr\ 


PRINTED    FOR    PRIVATE   DISTRIBUTION. 


PHILADELPHIA: 
The  Jas.  B.  Rodgers  Printing  Company, 

52  and  54  North  Sixth  Street. 
1893. 


TO    MY    BEIrOVED 

Motif  tt, 

THESE  PAGES,   WHICH  SILENTI^Y  SPEAK  AI.SO  OF  HER 

LIFE-WORK  IN  THE   PAST, 

ARE   MOST  AFFECTIONATELY  AND   GRATEFULLY 


"  '  Wir  werden  bei  don  Herrn  sein  allezeit  /  ' 
Du  Heimathlaut  in  frefnden  Pilgerthalen  ! 
Tiefdunkel  ist  die  ertiste  Ewigkeit, 
Dock  wie  durch  Nachtgewoelk  des  Mondes  Strahlen, 
Glaenzt  der  Verheissung  Licht  durch  Todesleid : 
Wir  werden  bei  dem  Herrn  sein  allezeit. 

^'Bei  Ihm  versammelt  !     Seinem  Salem  geht 
Die  Wallfahrt  zu.      Wie  oft  in  guten  Stunden, 
Wenn  seiner  Naehe  Odem  tins  umweht, 
Hat  es  Sein  Volk,  vor  Ihm  vereini,  empfunden : 
Das  ist  die  Fuelle  alter  Seligkeit  : 
Wir  werden  bei  dem  Herrn  sein  allezeit. 

"  Du  Gotteswort,  dem  froh  der  Glaube  traut, 
Wohl  magst  du  alien  Erdenjamtner  stillen, 
Das  fitistre  Thai,  vor  dem  der  Seele  graut, 
Mit  Moigenroth  und  heir  gem  Frieden  fuellen, 
O  Heitnathlicht  aus  dunkler  Ewigkeit : 
Wir  werden  bei  dem  Herrn  sein  allezeit  /' ' 


I 


PREFACE, 


N  the  first  bewildering  sense  of  sorrow  after  the  death  of  one 
dearly  beloved,  memory  seeks  to  hold  fast  the  days  that  have  for- 
ever gone,  and  gathers  precious  recollections  of  the  past,  to  heal  the 
wounds  time  is  continually  renewing.  This  record  of  events  of  my 
father's  life  and  work  came  into  being  in  the  stress  of  sorrow  that 
found  much  consolation  in  thinking  and  reading  of  him  ;  it  was 
not  the  fear  that  the  picture  of  his  strong  personality  and  noble 
character  might  easily  fade  from  the  minds  of  those  who  knew  him, 
nor  because  a  better  record  of  his  labors  had  not  been  given  by  a 
more  experienced  pen.  As  his  life  work  was  so  largely  among  those 
of  his  own  nationality,  and,  on  that  account,  less  known  to  a  large 
circle  of  friends,  it  was  thought  that  a  review  of  it,  even  by  one 
who  could  only  give  a  narrative  of  events,  would  not  be  without  in- 
terest. 

It  may  seem  that  a  freer  use  of  diaries  and  letters  might  have 
made  a  more  complete  picture,  but  the  difficulty  of  selection,  among 
so  much  that  was  at  hand,  was  very  great ;  and  much,  very  natu- 
rally, was  of  too  personal  a  nature  to  permit  its  introduction.  As  it 
is,  the  material  used,  especially  the  quotations  from  letters,  has  un- 
avoidably suffered  by  translation. 

In  gathering  exact  information  on  some  questions  of  family 
genealogy  and  in  supplying  the  complete  outline  of  the  early  years 
of  my  father's  life,  my  uncles,  :Mr.  Chas.  G.  Mann  and  the  Rev. 
Adolph  ^lann,  of  Stuttgart,  Wurtemberg,  very  kindly  assisted  me, 


2  PREFACE. 

and  I  herewith  thank  them  most  sincerely.  INIy  warm  thanks  are 
also  due  to  my  father's  life-long  friends,  Rev.  Prof.  Philip  Schaff, 
D.D.,  LL.D.,  who  generously  placed  at  my  disposal  the  corres- 
pondence of  forty-five  years,  and  the  Rev.  G.  F.  Krotel,  D.D.,  LL.D., 
who  most  kindly  encouraged  me,  and  assisted  me  in  the  preparation 
of  the  sketch  of  my  father's  activity  in  the  General  Council  of  the 
Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  North  America.  Nor  must  I  fail 
to  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  Rev.  Prof.  Adolph  Spaeth, 
D.D.  and  his  "  Memorial  of  William  Julius  Mann,"  and  to  the  Rev. 
Theodore  E.  Schmauk  for  his  most  valuable  sketch  of  my  father  as 
professor. 

Assured  that  to  my  beloved  sisters  and  brothers,  who  share  with 
me  so  many  precious  memories,  this  will  be  a  welcome  offering,  I 
also  indulge  the  hope,  that  in  the  still  larger  circle  of  relatives  and 
friends,  it  may  awaken  many  pleasant  and  tender  recollections. 

Emma  T.  Mann, 

Philadelphia,  Whitsuntide,  1893. 


CONTENTS 


CHAP.  ^^^^ 

I.    Ancestry 7 

II.     1819-1825.    Birth    and    Childhood 13 

III.  1825-1837.   ScHooi,  Days  :  Blaubeuren  and  Stuttgart.    21 

IV.  1837-1841.    University  Life  :  Tuebingen  ;  Professors  ; 

Journeys;    First   Literary  Efforts 30 

V.    1841-1845.    BoENNiGHEiM.     Neuhausen:     First   Work 

as   Teacher   and  Pastor 39 

VI.    1845.    The  Journey   to  America.     Arrivai.  in  Mer- 

CERSBURG 51 

VII.  1846-1850.    In  the  Reformed  Church  :   Pastorai,  and 

Literary  Work.   Extracts  from  Letters  ....     57 

VIII.  1846-1850.    FiRSt  Years  IN  Phii,adei.phia.   Marriage.     68 
IX.    1 850-1 860.     Pastor Ai,  Work  :     Call  to  St.  Michael's 

AND  ZioN's  Congregation 76 

X.    1851-1892.     Work  in  the  Ministerium  of   Pa.  :    The 

General  Synod;   the  General  Council 87 

XI.  1849-1867.  Home  Life  ;  Journeys  in  1S55  and  '62  .  .  95 
XIL    1860-1868.     Pastoral   Work:    Dr.    Demme's   Death; 

Division  of  the   Congregation  ;    In  War  Time  ; 

Old  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  Churches loi 

XIIL    1867.     Trip  to   Europe 112 

XIV.    1864-1891.     Work   as    Professor:   The   Founding  of 

the   Lutheran  Theological  Seminary;     In  the 

Lecture  Room "9 

3 


4  CONTENTS. 

CHAP.  PAGE 

XV.  1869-1884.    Pastorai,  Work  :  Zion  Church  on  Frank- 

i,iN   Street  Buii^t  ;   the  Congregation  ;   Sunday 
ScHOoi,;  Journeys  in  the  Summer;  The  Study  .    129 

XVI.  1875.  Journey  to  Europe  :  Extracts  from  Diary  .   .    140 
XVII.    1848-1892.    PhiIvAnthropic  Work  and  Friendships    .    164 

XVIII.    1S60-1892.    Literary  Work 174 

XIX.    1884- 1 892.     Pastor  Emeritus 187 

XX.  Home  Life  :  Journeys  to  Europe  in  '89  and  '90  .   .  194 

XXI.    The  Last  Year 201 

XXII.    Characteristics 209 

Tributes  and  Extracts  from  Letters 221 

A  Few  Sermons  and  Short  Extracts 243 

"  Gei^egenheits-Gedichte  " 295 


MEMOIR. 


w 


CHAPTER    I. 

ANCESTRY. 

'ILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN  came  of  an  ancient,  honored, 
German  lineage.  On  his  father's  side,  he  traced 
his  ancestry  to  the  days  of  the  Reformation  ;  his  mother 
was  a  descendant  of  the  Bilfinger  family,  honorably  named 
in  the  history  of  Wurtemberg  in  the  last  decades  of  the 
15th  century. 

In  1540,  and  probably  for  many  years  before,  his  ances- 
tors lived  in  Hirschlanden,  a  village  of  Wurtemberg,  not 
far  from  Stuttgart ;  and  only  as  recently  as  1871  did  the 
race  become  extinct  there.  The  earliest  parish  register  in 
existence,  preceding  records  being  destroyed  in  the  later 
stormy  days  of  the  Thirty  Years'  War,  contains  on  its  title 
page  this  inscription :  ' '  Church-register  of  the  Parish  of 
Hirschlanden.  This  book  was  purchased  by  Johannes 
Mann  and  cost  4  florins.  1624."  It  was  the  treasurer  of 
the  congregation,  called  in  the  olden  days  "  Heiligen- 
Pfleger, "  or  "  guardian  of  the  sacred  funds, ' '  who  bought 
the  parish  books.  He  had  the  care  not  only  of  the  monies, 
but,  as  well,  of  whatever  property  the  Church  possessed  in 
fields,  forest-lands  and  so  forth.  The  incumbent  of  this 
office  of  trust  was  chosen  from  among  the  old,  influential 
families  of  the  community,  and  no  one  under  forty-five 
years  of  age  was  permitted  to  fill  it.  The  Manns  in  those 
early  days  were  freeholders  and  landowners,  and  their  name 
occasionally  occurs  among  the  mayors  of  the  town. 

Uninterruptedly  the  registers  of  Hirschlanden  contain 
the  records  of  births,  marriages  and  deaths  of  members  of 
the  family.      Offshoots  from  the  original  stock  settled  in 

7 


8  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

the  vicinity ;  and  the  ties  of  blood  were  evidently  strong, 
for  the  baptismal  records  prove  that  Manns  from  neighbor- 
ing villages  frequently  became  sponsors  to  the  rising  gener- 
ation in  Hirschlanden.  Between  1663  and  1730,  the  bap- 
tisms of  no  less  than  fifty-eight  children  of  the  name  are 
recorded. 

John  George,  the  son  of  Johannes  Martin  and  Anna 
Margaretta  Mann,  and  the  father  of  William  Julius,  was 
born  in  Hirschlanden  on  the  i8th  of  January,  1778.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  Gymnasium  (classical  school) 
at  Stuttgart.  Upon  the  completion  of  his  studies  he 
entered  a  commercial  house  in  Frankfort-on-the-Maine, 
and  afterwards  was  for  a  time  connected  with  a  mercantile 
business  in  Erlangen,  Bavaria.  In  1805  he  established 
himself  in  Stuttgart  and  founded  an  extensive  business  in 
wool  and  colonial  products,  which  he  carried  on  until  1845, 
when  he  retired. 

When  a  young  man,  he  traveled  extensively  in  the  in- 
terests of  business,  and  during  the  troublous  days  of  the 
Napoleonic  Wars  made  many  a  journey  on  horseback,  with 
pistols  hanging  from  his  saddle-bow.  He  was  in  Frank- 
fort-on-the-Maine when  it  was  besieged  by  the  French,  and 
the  house  in  which  he  lived  was  struck  by  a  bomb.  To 
avoid  the  meeting  with  a  party  of  French  soldiers,  and  the 
possible  impressment  into  the  service  of  his  country's  foes, 
he  hid,  on  one  occasion,  in  the  moat,  and  gladly  found 
protection,  after  the  escape,  within  the  city  walls. 

He  was  a  man  of  strong  personality  and  of  grave  and 
dignified  manner,  and  he  was  a  devout  Christian,  who  loved 
the  word  and  house  of  God  and  took  an  active  part  in  the 
work  of  His  kingdom.  He  was  one  of  the  fifteen  citizens 
of  Stuttgart,  among  whom  were  Count  Seckendorf,  prime 
minister  of  the  kingdom,  and  the  Prelates  Flatt  and  Dann, 
who,  on  the  nth  September,  1812,  founded  the  Bible 
Society  of  Wurtemberg.  In  those  days  of  despotic,  kingly 
power,  this  good  work  was  a  dangerous  undertaking,  and 


ANCESTRY.  9 

was  regarded  suspiciously  in  high  places  because  it  savored 
of  independent  thought  and  action.  It  is  difficult  to  realize 
at  present  that  to  raise  funds  for  the  purposes  of  the  Society 
created  less  difficulty  than  to  obtain  the  royal  pennission  to 
carry  on  the  work.  His  Majesty  finally  graciously  an- 
nounced that  he  was  unwilling  to  frustrate  the  good  inten- 
tions, etc.  ;  but  a  public  institution  could  only  be  allowed 
under  supervision.  Finally,  the  Dean  of  Stuttgart  was 
ordered  to  appoint  a  committee  of  six  of  the  founders  of 
the  Society,  for  whose  character  and  social  standing  he  was 
responsible,  and  to  them  the  royal  instructions  were  given. 
Mr.  Mann  was  among  the  six  named.  At  the  first  meeting 
of  the  Society  he  was  made  its  treasurer,  an  office  which  he 
filled  for  nearly  forty  years  with  untiring  zeal  and  conscien- 
tious devotion. 

In  the  next  year  the  royal  favor  obtained  the  freedom  of 
postage  for  the  Society  ;  a  matter  of  some  consequence  when 
it  was  about  seventy  per  cent,  higher  than  at  present. 

In  1819  an  appeal  for  Bibles  came  from  America ;  but  a 
statute  law  forbade  their  sale  into  a  foreign  country  without 
permission  from  the  king.  The  Society  wished  neither  to 
refuse  the  books  nor  to  ask  the  royal  favor.  They  there- 
fore bought  and  sent  a  number  of  Bibles  as  private  property 
to  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  Con- 
gregation in  Philadelphia  for  distribution,  and  made  no 
record  of  this  transaction  on  their  minutes. 

When,  seventy  years  afterwards,  Dr.  William  J.  Mann, 
as  Archivarius  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  was 
arranging  the  papers  of  the  late  Dr.  J.  H.  Helmuth,  he 
found  among  them,  to  his  surprise  and  gratification,  letters 
from  the  Wurtemberg  Bible  Society  signed  by  his  father. 

After  Mr.  Mann  retired  from  business  in  1845,  ^^  accepted 
the  office  of  City  Almoner  of  Stuttgart,  which  to  the  close 
of  his  life  in  1858  he  administered  with  great  fidelity.  He 
introduced  many  new  and  practical  measures  to  save  the 
public  funds  and  to  further  their  equitable  distribution. 


10  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

Dr.  Mann's  maternal  grandfather  was  George  Christo- 
pher Gentner,  Ober-Amtmann  (Judge)  in  Backnang,  Wur- 
temberg.  A  fragment  of  his  autobiography  which  has 
come  down  to  us  is  written  in  a  hand  as  firm  and  legible  as 
print.  He  attended  the  Latin  school  at  Goeppingen,  and 
at  fifteen  entered  the  classical  school  at  Blaubeuren,  Wur- 
temberg.  His  mother  had  intended  him  for  the  service  of 
the  Church,  but  "after  prayerful  consideration,  and  with 
his  mother's  consent,"  he  matriculated  at  Tliebingen  as  a 
student  of  law.  In  1763  he  "returned  to  his  mother"  and 
practised  law  in  Nuertingen  until  1765,  when  the  Duke  of 
Wurtemberg  appointed  him  Ober-Amtmann  in  Freuden- 
stadt,  and  after  some  years  in  Backnang,  Wurtemberg. 
His  father,  Johannes  Daniel  Gentner,  also  Ober-Amtmann, 
died  in  1749,  when  the  son  was  only  nine  years  old  ;  and 
had  also  been  prepared  in  the  classical  institutions  at 
Blaubeuren,  Wurtemberg,  for  his  imiversity  course  at 
Tuebingen. 

The  Gentners  came  originally  from  Saxony  to  Wur- 
temberg, and  the  name  was  in  former  times  probably 
"  Lindner ;"  and  in  the  family  escutcheon  the  branch  of  a 
linden  tree  figures  prominently. 

Rosina  Fredericka  Lang  Gentner,  Dr.  Mann's  maternal 
grandmother,  was  a  highly-gifted  woman,  whose  fine  mind 
and  superior  education  made  her  the  leader  of  a  social 
circle.  She  and  her  husband  enjoyed  the  high  esteem  and 
friendship  of  Duke  Charles  Eugene  of  Wurtemberg,  Her 
grandson  well  remembered  her  bright  and  lively  manner 
and  her  witty  conversation ;  and  he  treasured  as  one  of  his 
precious  possessions  the  manuscript  of  a  History  of  the 
Popes  from  the  first  Bishop  of  Rome  to  the  9th  century, 
written  by  his  intellectual  and  studious  grandmother. 

Her  father,  the  Rev.  Philip  Heinrich  Lang, — for  seven 
successive  generations  the  family  held  offices  in  Church  or 
State, — married  Maria  Fredericka  Weckherlin,  a  member  of 
the  family  of  that  name  well  known  in  the  annals  of  Suabia. 


ANCESTRY.  1 1 

The  mother  of  this  great-grandfather  of  Dr.  Mann  was 
Maria  Elizabeth  Bilfinger.  Her  family  is  honorably  named 
in  the  history  of  Wurtemberg  in  the  early  days  of  the 
15th  centnry,  and  the  descent  from  it  secnres  through  the 
male  and  female  line  several  important  privileges  in  con- 
nection with  the  University  of  Tuebingen. 

A  member  of  the  Bilfinger  family,  an  abbot,  renounced 
Romanism  in  the  days  of  the  Reformation,  and  founded  and 
endowed  in  the  University  town  of  Tuebingen  a  building 
known  as  the  "  Neue  Bau."  In  it,  descendants  of  the 
family  studying  at  the  University  find  rooms,  board  and 
ser\dce  provided  for  them.  The  length  of  time  they  may 
enjoy  these  privileges  during  the  four  years  course  of  study 
is  limited  only  by  the  number  of  descendants  studying  at 
one  time. 

Dr.   Mann's  mother,  Augusta  Fredericka,  the  daughter 

of  George  Christopher  and  Fredericka  Lang  Centner,  was 

born  in  Freudenstadt,  in  the  Black  Forest,  Wurtemberg, 

on  the  29th  of  May,  1790.     She  had  one  sister  and  two 

brothers.     Like  her  mother  she  possessed  fine  intellectual 

gifts,  and  had  decided  poetical  talent.     She  was  endowed 

with  uncommon  vivacity  and  sprightliness  of  mind  and  a 

lively  imagination  ;  her  beauty  of  countenance  made  her 

as  attractive  as  her  charming  and  winning  manners  made 

her  lovable.     As  a  little  girl  she  was  a  great  favorite  of 

the  Duke    of  Wurtemberg,  who  was   often   her  parents' 
guest. 

But  the  characteristic  which  most  strongly  marked  her 
was  a  deep  and  living  faith  in  Christ,  her  Saviour.  This 
per\'aded  her  life  and  sanctified  all  her  admirable  qualities 
of  mind  and  heart ;  from  the  Christian  standpoint  she  esti- 
mated all  things,  and  she  valued  them  only  in  their  relation 
to  the  kingdom  of  God.  It  was  through  the  influence  of 
the  Rev.  Mr.  Handel,  in  Nuertingen,  where  her  father 
lived  after  retiring  from  public  life,  and  in  the  Christian 
circle  that  gathered  about  him  and  his  admirable  and  gifted 


12  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

wife,  that  her  religious  impressions  became  deep,  earnest 
conviction. 

It  was  here  that  she  met  her  husband,  John  George 
Mann,  and  on  the  28th  of  April,  1816,  she  became  his  wife. 
He  had  been  married  before,  and  to  his  three  motherless 
boys  she  became  so  devoted  and  loving  a  mother,  that  in 
after  years,  when  her  own  three  sons  were  growing  up, 
neither  they  nor  their  brothers  knew  that  they  were  not  all 
children  of  the  same  mother.  In  the  education  of  her  sons, 
she  displayed  admirable  firmness  and  wisdom,  combined 
with  devoted  love.  In  the  large  circle  of  friends  which 
gathered  about  her  and  her  husband  in  their  Stuttgart 
home,  she  was  most  highly  esteemed,  as  well  for  her  bright 
intellect  as  for  her  firm  and  loving  Christian  character. 
In  the  many-sided  activity  of  her  husband,  she  took  most 
active  interest,  her  ready  judgment  and  admirable  tact 
making  her  counsel  most  helpful.  Among  the  men  who 
frequented  their  home  were  the  learned  divines  and  eloquent 
pulpit  orators,  Christian  Adam  Dann  and  Wilhelm  and  lyud- 
wig  Hofacker ;  the  poets,  Ludwig  Uhland  and  Gustav 
Schwab  ;  the  hymnologist,  Albert  Knapp  ;  the  philanthro- 
pist, Stephen  Grellet ;  Dr.  Pinkerton,  of  the  London  Bible 
Society  ;  and  the  great  preacher  and  inspirer  of  mission- 
work,  Dr.  Christian  Gottlob  Barth. 

Of  the  five  sons  of  the  family  who  attained  manhood,  two 
entered  mercantile  life,  and  three  studied  theology  and  en- 
tered the  ministry  :  one  served  the  church  in  his  native 
Wurtemberg  ;  one  labored  in  the  mission-field  in  Africa  ; 
and  the  other  found  in  America  a  wide  field  of  activity  and 
usefulness  in  the  service  of  the  Master. 


CHAPTER  II. 

BIRTH— CHILDHOOD.     1819-1825. 

liriLLiAM  JULIUS  MANN,  the  fifth  SOU  born  to  his  father, 
*  *  came  to  the  world  on  his  mother's  birthday,  the 
29th  of  May,  in  the  year  1819,  at  Stuttgart,  Wurtem- 
berg.  His  brother  Charles  Gottlob  was  two  years  older 
than  he ;  and  in  1820,  the  family  circle  was  completed  by 
the  birth  of  another  son,  Adolph. 

Of  the  elder  brothers,  Heinrich,  the  first-born,  died  when 
Julius  was  not  yet  five  years  old.  Rudolph  and  Victor 
were  the  leaders  of  their  younger  brothers  in  sport,  and 
Rudolph,  especially,  was,  in  later  years,  as  well  their 
paragon  in  study. 

They  were  a  merry  company  and  enjoyed  in  the  healthy 
atmosphere  of  their  Christian  home  a  peculiarly  happy  and 
sunny  childhood,  that  left  among  the  cares  and  labors  of 
after  years  a  sweet  savor  of  love  and-  innocent  joy.  The 
wish  for  a  sister  was  often  expressed  by  the  brothers.  It  is 
related  that  the  little  girls  who  visited  the  family  were 
always  royally  treated  by  the  boys,  who  wanted  to  adopt 
one  of  them  as  a  sister. 

One  of  the  very  earliest  recollections  of  little  Julius, 
grown  somewhat  vague,  indeed,  in  the  misty  haze  of  years, 
was  the  form  of  the  family  doctor,  the  Medicinalrath 
Frank,  who  attended  him  and  Charles  when  both  were 
afilicted  with  measles.  The  doctor  was  a  celebrity,  who  at 
the  Carl's  Schule  at  Stuttgart  had  been  a  class-mate  of  the 
great  French  financier  Neckar,  of  Schelling,  the  father  of 
the  philosopher,  of  the  sculptor  Dannecker,  and  of  the  great 
Schiller.     But  to  the  little  boys,  his  long  black  cloak,  or- 

13 


14  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

namented  with  the  royal  order  of  merit ;  his  light  gray  knee 
breeches  and  high  top-boots  ;  and  above  all,  his  great  gold- 
headed  cane,  ornamented  with  leather  tassels  a  foot  in  length, 
with  which  they  were  allowed  to  play,  were  his  distinguish- 
ing characteristics. 

A  number  of  anecdotes  of  Julius's  childhood,  which  have 
come  down  to  us  reveal  the  straightforward,  generous, 
lovable  character  of  the  boy,  and  to  a  degree,  also,  the 
energy,  originality  and  humor  which  in  later  years  so 
strongly  marked  him. 

Of  the  old  servants  in  the  family,  there  is  still  living 
Fran  Fischer,  now  an  aged  widow  of  four-score  and  ten, 
then  known  as  "Rickele,"  the  much-beloved  nurse  of 
the  children  and  in  after  years  the  "Stuetze  der  Hausfrau" 
(head  domestic),  who  was  especially  fond  of  Julius.  She 
relates  that  when  he  was  about  four  years  old,  he  insisted 
upon  being  taken  to  a  meeting,  that  he  had  heard  a  Quaker, 
a  visitor  at  Stuttgart,  was  to  address.  In  the  assembly  all 
was  quiet  and  Julius  sat  expectant.  But  for  twenty  minutes, 
silence  reigned  supreme  and  his  patience  gave  out.  Tug- 
ging his  nurse's  dress,  he  said  in  a  loud  clear  tone,  "So 
gut  kann  ich's  auch  ;  komm,  da  gehen  wir  !"  (I  can  do 
as  well  myself !     Let's  go  !") 

Another  time,  he  had  been  given  a  "Zehnkreutzerstueck," 
(a  dime.)  He  bought  for  it  a  dozen  pretzels  and  was  pre- 
sently discovered  at  the  street  corner,  the  pretzels  strung 
upon  his  father's  cane,  offering  with  a  sweet  smile  to  every 
passer-by  a  pretzel  as  a  morning  greeting.  The  brothers 
teased  him  greatly  about  this  use  of  his  money,  but  he  stoutly 
maintained  he  had  had  a  great  deal  of  pleasure  from  it. 

The  family  home  for  forty  years  was  a  large,  typical  Stutt- 
gart house  in  the  Houptstaedter  Strasse,  near  the  St.  Leon- 
ard's Church,  which  was  surrounded  by  the  "Platz,"  that 
afforded  a  fine  place  for  play.  The  old  Gothic  building 
was  an  object  of  wonder  and  admiration  to  the  boys,  and  it 
was  their  great  delight  to  explore  its  hidden  nooks.     The 


CHILDHOOD. 


15 


sexton  was  their  devoted  friend  and  it  was  regarded  as  an 
especial  mark  of  favor  to  be  allowed  to  ring  the  bell  for  ser- 
vice. In  his  baby  days,  Julius  wanted  to  go  to  the  * '  Thurni, ' ' 
a  longing  that  was  often  satisfied  in  boyhood,  and  a  pro- 
pensity that  marked  him  through  life  :  a  lofty  position  and 
an  extended  view  always  had  a  peculiar  fascination  for  him. 
Before  the  church,  there  stands  a  fine  crucifix,  twenty 
feet  high,  carved  in  stone.  It  is  a  feature  of  the  "Kirchen 
Platz."  One  day,  little  Julius  while  playing  in  the  dirt 
attempted  to  model  the  church.  He  was  asked  whether  he 
intended  to  make  the  crucifix,  too.  Looking  up  seriously, 
he  said,  "Ja,  wenn  der  Dreck  langt !"  (Yes,  if  there  is  dirt 
enough  !) 

The  organ-loft  and  the  organ  awakened  his  curiosity  and 
delight,  and  in  very  early  childhood  he  determined  to  learn 
how  to  make  music  on  the  big  instrument.  When,  in  after 
years,  as  a  boy  of  fourteen,  he  sat  one  day  at  the  organ 
playing,  he  was  surprised  to  find  the  Prelate  Dann  standing 
beside  him  and  attentively  listening.  The  great  and  good 
man  patted  him  on  the  shoulder  and  said  :  "Julius,  you 
have  done  well ;  never  neglect  your  music."  And  indeed 
he  never  did. 

When  a  little  boy  of  five  or  six  years,  Julius  liked  to  play 
church,  an  amusement  to  which  Saturday  evening  was  usu- 
ally devoted.  Arrayed  in  a  long  black  shawl,  with  paper 
bands,  he  mounted  a  footstool  behind  the  table  in  the  nur- 
sery, and  delivered  his  sermon.  Little  Adolph  played 
beadle  ;  the  bell  hung  in  the  card-board  tower  of  a  church 
that  had  supplemented  the  Christmas  decorations.  The 
congregation  consisted  of  the  sexton,  one  or  two  boys  of 
the  neighborhood  and  the  devoted  "Rickele."  The  at- 
tempt to  enlarge  his  audience  as  the  speaker  desired,  did 
not  meet  with  a  great  measure  of  success.  But  the  preacher 
took  his  speeches  quite  seriously  and  on  one  occasion,  being 
helped  rather  scantily  to  bread  and  jam  at  lunch,  exclaimed 
with  earnestness,  "  Wartet  nur,  des  nachste  mal  predige  ich 


l6  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

vom  Geiz  !"    (Just  wait,  the  next  time  I  shall  preach  on 
meanness  !) 

"When  I  was  hardly  six  years  old,"  he  wrote  many 
years  afterwards,  "I  paid  a  first  visit  from  my  Suabian  home 
to  Switzerland.''  Over  the  beautiful  Suabian  Alb,  he  went 
with  his  father  and  brother  Charles  by  way  of  Ulm  to 
Friedrichshaven.  The  broad  expanse  of  Lake  Constance, 
seen  on  the  evening  of  their  arrival  glistening  in  the  moon- 
light made  upon  the  boys  a  lasting  impression.  The  next 
day  in  a  steamboat,  one  of  the  first  used  on  the  lake,  they 
crossed  to  Rorschach.  This  short  voyage  was  memorable 
because  fire  broke  out  and  was  with  difficulty  extinguished. 
The  incidents  of  the  journey,  the  new  experiences  of  travel, 
which  in  those  days  was  enhanced  by  the  leisure  and  pleas- 
ure of  coaching,  and  above  all,  the  majestic  beauty  of  the 
snow-covered  Alps,  made  this  trip  a  delightful  and  well- 
remembered  epoch  in  the  lives  of  the  little  boys. 

When  visiting  on  one  occasion  the  maternal  grandmother 
in  Nuertingen,  where  the  brothers,  by  the  way,  enjoyed 
some  of  their  liveliest  pranks,  Julius  was  shown,  as  a 
curiosity,  an  exquisite,  tiny  basket,  symmetrically  and  deli- 
cately carved  from  a  cherry  stone.  His  eyes  opened  wide 
with  wonder,  and  his  admiration  of  the  workmanship  was 
great.  In  a  few  moments  he  said  :  ' '  Ich  moecht's  audi 
probiren  !"  (I  would  like  to  try  to  make  one  !)  Upon  being 
given  a  small  pen-knife  and  a  cherry-stone,  he  set  earnestly 
to  work  and  actually  accomplished,  though  only  a  little 
fellow  of  ten,  the  making  of  a  tiny  basket  with  a  handle 
and  several  small  ornamental  openings  at  the  sides,  in  imi- 
tation of  the  perfect  little  Nuremberg  model  before  him. 

Both  the  original  and  the  father's  work  when  a  little  boy 
are  in  possession  of  one  of  his  children,  highly  prized,  not 
only  because  of  the  workmanship,  but  as  an  earnest  of  that 
noble  energy,  that  steadiness  of  purpose  and  the  artistic  taste 
that  marked  the  great  and  good  man. 

By  his  little  play-fellows,  Julius  was  greatly  beloved  and 


CHILDHOOD.  17 

they  were  generally  willing  to  let  him  "play  the  Sultan," 
for  he  liked  to  take  the  lead  in  sport,  and  in  snow-ball  fights, 
it  is  said,  he  usually  wanted  to  be  the  "captain."  In  the 
amusements  at  home,  Rudolph,  full  of  wit  and  fun,  was  the 
leader,  as  well  because  of  his  superior  years  as  because  of 
the  zest  and  sympathy  with  which  he  entered  into  all  the 
boyish  plans  of  his  younger  brothers. 

Once  during  vacation,  all  the  boys  were  agreed  that  they 
would  be  perfectly  happy,  if  they  might  for  one  day  do  just 
as  they  pleased.  Permission  was  accordingly  granted  and 
no  one  was  to  interfere  with  their  pleasures.  The  neighbors 
were  amazed,  we  are  not  surprised  to  hear,  to  find  them 
whitewashing  the  front  door,  a  proceeding  which  somewhat 
abruptly  curtailed  their  day  of  freedom. 

One  of  the  well-remembered  exploits  that  showed  the  love 
of  the  brothers  for  fun,  regardless  of  danger,  was  made  to 
tease  an  old  neighbor,  whose  daily  habit  was  to  consult  his 
weather-vane  from  a  favorable  position  on  the  Kirchen-platz. 
Horrified  indeed  was  the  old  gentleman,  one  bright  morn- 
ing, to  see  a  huge  pumpkin  perched  on  his  vane,  transform- 
ing it  into  a  ludicrous  and  useless  object.  It  had  been  no 
small  matter  to  reach  the  high  gabled  roof  of  the  old  house  ; 
but  the  boys  had  enjoyed  the  fun  and  the  danger,  and  Julius 
appeased  the  old  friend's  wrath  by  climbing  up  again  and 
taking  the  big  pumpkin  away. 

The  fun  and  merry-making  sometimes  came  suddenly  to 
an  end  and  occasionally  left  a  deep  impression  on  the  young 
minds.  High  up  under  the  gables  of  the  house  was  a  lum- 
ber and  drying-room  ;  hams,  tongues,  and  such  savory 
things,  hung  under  the  rafters,  and  in  the  autumn,  fruit  was 
dried  there  for  winter  use.  One  October  day,  the  fact  that 
pears  and  peaches  had  been  put  to  dry  was  whispered  about, 
and  as  the  key  to  this  lofty  apartment  was  not  in  their 
keeping,  the  brothers  planned  to  scale  the  side  wall  and 
enter  by  the  window.  One  of  the  boys  finally  reached  the 
window-sill   and   was   about   to  jump   in,  when   his    face 


l8  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

changed  color  and  he  whispered  to  the  others,  ' '  Father  is 
there  ! "  At  this  there  was  a  sudden  scramble  for  safer  quar- 
ters and  the  brothers  had  a  serious  talk.  If  they  did  not 
dare  to  enter  when  their  father  was  in  the  room,  they  sud- 
denly discovered  that  it  was  not  fun  to  take  the  forbidden 
fruit ;  and  so  the  escapade  led  to  serious  reflection. 

It  was  in  their  code  of  honor  to  confess  their  faults.  When 
anything  was  wrong,  the  author  of  the  mischief  had  to  tell 
all  about  it  and  take  the  punishment,  if  there  was  any. 
The  mother,  who  sympathized  at  heart  with  all  the  merri- 
ment, was  nevertheless  very  strict  with  her  boys  and  insisted 
upon  implicit  obedience ;  their  father,  who  was  sometimes 
called  in  to  pass  sentence  upon  them,  always  tempered  his 
judgments  with  mercy.  Perfect  confidence  and  true  sym- 
pathy kept  very  close  the  bond  of  love  between  parents  and 
sons. 

The  servants  took  great  pride  in  the  children,  and,  as 
happened  more  frequently  in  times  past  than  now,  they  were 
in  the  family  for  many  years.  Julius  was  an  especial  favor- 
ite, because  of  his  amiability  and  ready  wit ;  nor  did  they 
forget  when  he  had  grown  to  manhood  the  affection  they 
bore  him.  One  "Dieterle"  who  was  in  his  father's  service 
for  twenty-seven  years,  having  accumulated  some  means, 
emigrated  to  America.  Years  afterwards,  he  heard  that  Mr. 
Mann  was  in  Philadelphia.  The  faithful  fellow  shouldered 
his  knapsack  in  Kittanning  in  Pennsylvania,  and  traveled 
to  Philadelphia  to  see  his  ' '  lieber  Julius, ' '  whom  he  em- 
braced with  tears.  And  indeed  the  young  clergyman  was 
not  less  glad  to  see  the  faithful  friend  of  his  boyhood's  days  ; 
for  no  one  appreciated  love  and  devotion  more  than  he. 

About  a  mile  from  their  home,  which  was  in  the  heart  of 
the  city,  the  family  had  a  fine  garden  to  which  on  pleasant 
days  they  always  repaired.  Julius  and  his  brothers  were 
devoted  to  the  garden,  where  cherries  and  raspberries  offered 
refreshment  in  the  spring,  and  the  ripening  apples,  pears 
and  plums  sweetened  the  summer,  until  in  the  autumn,  the 


CHILDHOOD. 


19 


year  was  crowned  with  the  rich  har\^est  of  juicy  grapes. 
Forget-ine-nots,  roses,  oleanders  and  carnations,  and  all  the 
bright  array  of  garden  flowers  bloomed  there,  too,  in  lovely 
profusion.  In  genial  weather,  it  was  customary  to  take  the 
evening  meal  there,  for  which  a  substantial  garden  house 
afforded  necessary  appliances.  On  one  occasion,  when  there 
was  distinguished  company,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Flatt  and  the  Baron 
and  Baroness  von  Gemmingen,  Charles  and  Julius  prepared 
a  unique  surprise  in  the  garden  for  the  parents  and  their 


guests. 


Two  elder  trees  were  in  bloom,  near  the  arbor  in  which 
supper  was  shortly  to  be  served.  Mounted  on  a  step-ladder 
and  supplied  with  a  charcoal  fire,  they  bent  low  the  branches 
of  the  elders  and  dipped  the  blossoms  into  a  dish  of  batter 
which  the  housekeeper  had  prepared  for  them.  Over  the 
charcoal  fire  they  fried  the  cakes  on  the  trees  and  then  let 
the  branches  return  to  their  natural  position.  The  brothers 
and  the  paraphernalia  had  disappeared  when  the  company 
sauntered  leisurely  toward  the  arbor,  where  the  strange  sight 
greatly  amused  them.  The  boys  afterwards  laughingly  told, 
that  when  on  an  afternoon  walk  at  the  Blaubeuren  school, 
the  nuns  of  the  convent  of  Urspriug  had  treated  them  to  sim- 
ilar batter  cakes. 

Among  the  happiest  reminiscences  of  childhood  and  youth 
were  the  afternoon  walks  over  the  vine-clad  hills  and  into 
the  lovely  woods  round  about  the  city.  The  poet  has  likened 
the  beauties  of  Stuttgart  to  those  of  Florence,  comparing 
the  Schloss-Garten  and  the  Boboli  Gardens ;  the  old  winding 
road  between  the  vineyards  to  Degerloch  with  the  road 
betw^een  olive  gardens  and  vineyards  to  Fiesole ;  and  the 
view  into  the  blooming  vales  of  Suabia  with  the  prospect 
into  the  blooming  plains  of  Tuscany.  Certainly,  the  environs 
of  Stuttgart  invite  the  lover  of  nature  to  enjoy  her  charms  ; 
and  the  leisurely  promenade  to  the  family  garden  on  one  of 
the  sloping  hill-sides  beyond  the  limits  of  the  town,  was  a 
feature  of  Stuttgart  life  a  generation  ago. 


20  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Long  years  after  in  his  home  in  Philadelphia,  those  far- 
off  days  came  back  to  Dr.  Mann  again  and  again  full  of  sweet 
recollections.  And  they  became  very  real  to  his  wife  and 
children,  who  knew  Stuttgart,  its  Alte  and  Neue  Schloss, 
the  Schloss-Platz  and  the  Anlagen  that  stretch  to  Cannstadt, 
the  Esslinger  Steig,  the  Hasenberg  and  the  Bopser,  long 
before  they  saw  them  ' '  face  to  face. ' ' 


CHAPTER  III. 

SCHOOL  DAYS.     1825-1837. 

T^HE  happy  Eden  of  life's  first  unburdened  years  is  but 
too  soon  invaded  by  tlie  stern  demands  of  duty.  With 
little  Julius,  as  with  his  brothers,  the  school  days  began 
early.  At  his  mother's  knee,  from  the  opening  verses  of 
the  gospel  of  St.  John,  he  had  taken  his  first  lesson  in  read- 
ing ;  and  before  he  went  to  school  he  could  read  and  write 
German  with  ease.  When  at  six  he  entered  the  Elementary 
Latin  School,  at  Stuttgart,  he  began  to  lay  the  foundation 
of  that  thorough  and  extensive  knowledge  that  marked  him 
as  a  man.  His  first  instruction  in  Latin  and  religion  he 
received  from  Jeremias  Flatt,  a  teacher  whose  name  was 
well  known  in  Wurtemberg,  and  under  whom  many  sons 
of  Stuttgart  families  received  their  first  deep  impressions  of 
the  importance  of  study,  and  the  higher  lesson  of  the  value 
of  living  for  God  and  his  kingdom. 

During  1826-27,  he  attended  the  lower  classes  of  the 
gymnasium  in  his  native  city.  As  in  all  the  classical  schools 
of  Germany,  the  Latin  grammar  was  the  foremost  point  of 
attack,  and  thoroughly  did  the  little  army  of  soldiers  van- 
quish the  enemy.  There  was  no  grammatical  rhyme  in 
"Aim,"  no  list  of  words  in  "is,"  no  strange  form  of  abla- 
tive absolute  or  gerundium  that  was  not  mastered  ;  so  that 
in  time,  the  Latin  tongue  became  as  easy  to  use  as  Gennan, 
and  the  Latin  essays  for  the  University  examinations  of 
after  years  were  not  difficult  because  of  the  language. 

At  eight  years  of  age,  he  began  Greek.     Julius  delighted 
in  study,  and  his  sense  of  duty  was  very  strong  :  the  com- 


22  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

mendation  of  his  teachers  was  his  ambition  and  his  greatest 
happiness. 

When  nine  years  old  he  was  sent,  with  his  brother  Adolph, 
to  the  well-known  classical  institutions  at  Blanbeuren,  near 
Ulm,  Wurtemberg.  There  his  maternal  ancestors  for 
several  generations  had  been  educated,  and  there  the  elder 
brothers  had  prepared  for  the  higher  classes  of  the  Stuttgart 
Gymnasium.  Charles  had  been  entered  as  a  pupil  in  the 
previous  year,  so  that  the  three  brothers,  though  far  away 
from  home,  were  together.  But  it  was  a  great  change 
from  the  tender  home  surroundings  to  the  stern  discipline 
of  the  Latin  school,  where  a  great  deal  was  expected  of 
the  little  boys.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  summer,  and  at  six, 
in  winter,  the  rising  bell  rang.  Order  was  strictly  en- 
joined. 

In  this  respect,  as  in  his  studies,  Julius  won  the  hearty 
approbation  of  his  teachers.  From  beginning  to  end  of  his 
career  as  a  student,  he  learned  with  ease  and  pleasure,  and 
remembered  what  he  acquired.  He  took  great  pride  in  the 
neat  arrangement  of  his  room  and  books.  Over  the  closet 
shelf,  inspected  every  week  by  the  head-master,  he  carefully 
fixed  a  small  mirror,  so  that  the  exquisite  order  of  his  toilet 
articles  there  arranged  was  reflected  for  his  pleasure  and 
satisfaction.  "The  child  is  father  to  the  man,''  and  this 
was  the  boyish  beginning  of  the  love  of  order  and  system 
that  pervaded  all  his  work  in  after  years. 

When  he  entered  at  Blaubeuren,  Julius  was  sufiiciently 
advanced  to  read  selections  from  Caesar,  Tacitus  and  lyivy. 
Every  Saturday  a  Ivatin  composition  on  a  given  theme  was 
written.  Latin,  Greek  and  Hebrew,  which  he  began  at 
nine,  with  mathematics,  were  the  principal  studies.  His- 
tory and  geography  were  a  relaxation  for  hours  of  reading 
and  leisure.  Catechetical  and  religious  instruction  was 
given  twice  a  week  by  the  first  clergyman  of  Blaubeuren, 
Dean  Bockshammer. 

He  took  special  interest  in  the  boys  who  intended  to  study 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  23 

theology,  and  invited  them  often  to  his  house,  where  he 
not  only  entertained  them  in  his  garden  with  games  and 
stories,  but  became  personally  well  acquainted  with  them, 
questioning  them  about  their  progress  at  school,  and  fre- 
quently examining  them  on  the  subject  and  substance  of 
the  last  Sunday's  sermon.  On  one  occasion,  when  he  asked 
who  had  thought  during  the  week  about  what  he  had 
preached  on  the  previous  Sunday,  Julius  Mann  surprised 
him  by  presenting  him  wntli  the  outline  of  the  sermon, 
which  had  for  its  subject  the  gospel  story  of  the  box  of  pre- 
cious ointment,  written  out  in  faultless  Latin,  This,  of 
course,  elicited  the  good  man's  sincere  commendation,  and 
Julius'  brothers  remembered  the  incident  and  reported  it  at 
home.  ]Many  years  afterwards  he  was  reminded  of  it  by 
one  of  them. 

The  brothers,  with  about  twenty  of  the  other  pupils, 
were  under  the  immediate  care  of  Prof.,  afterwards  Rev., 
C.  H,  Pfleiderer,  a  man  of  great  ability  and  of  renown  as  a 
teacher.  The  boys  were  always  in  his  presence  :  when  they 
were  at  study,  he  was  with  them,  and  when  at  play,  he  par- 
ticipated in  their  games.  In  the  hours  of  recreation,  gym- 
nastics, skating,  snow-ball  battles,  and  all  kinds  of  out- 
door sports  supplied  needful  bodily  exercise.  There  was 
much  boyish  fun  and  frolic,  and  every  day  a  long,  delightful 
walk  with  Prof.  Pfleiderer. 

Far  and  wide  over  the  country  they  roamed,  visiting  all 
the  interesting  points  within  ten  miles  of  Blaubeuren. 
Through  the  beautiful  Suabian-alb  valley,  in  which  it  lies, 
flows  the  Blau,  which  has  its  rise  in  the  "  Blau-topf,"  a  deep 
pool  of  clear  water,  blue  as  the  cloudless  summer  sky.  From 
points  in  the  vicinity,  fine  views  of  the  Tyrolese  Alps  were 
to  be  enjoyed.  Several  caves  not  far  distant,  with  forma- 
tions of  stalagmites  and  stalactites,  were  attractive  objects 
of  an  afternoon's  walk,  and  afforded  fine  opportunities  for 
object  lessons  in  geology  that  were  not  neglected.  Botany 
also,  to  a  great  extent,  was  studied  out  of  doors  in  fields  and 


24  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

woods,  and  the  pupils  started  on  tlieir  walks  equipped  with 
note-books  and  specimen  boxes. 

Ulm  is  only  ten  miles  distant,  which  old  city  in  the  Middle 
Ages  was  world-renowned  ;  for  the  rhyme  runs  : 

"Venice's  might, 
Augsburg's  light, 
Strassburg  guns, 
Nuremberg  puns. 
And  Ulm's  gold, 
The  world  controlled." 

In  the  old  towers,  bridges  and  quaint  buildings  of  the  city 
there  was  much  to  study,  and  far  above  all  these  in  interest 
was  the  noble  Gothic  cathedral,  which  brought  the  young 
minds  into  living  contact  with  the  great  architectural  feats 
of  times  past. 

In  the  St.  Johannis  Church,  in  Blaubeuren,  they  had  also 
admirable  opportunity  to  study  the  beautiful  in  form  in  the 
exquisite  wood  carving  of  the  high  altar,  a  work  probably 
executed  by  the  old  master  Syrlin,  and  unsurpassed  among 
art  treasures  of  that  kind. 

Julius,  though  much  occupied  with  studies  demanded  by 
the  curriculum,  found  time  to  take  lessons  in  drawing  also, 
for  which  he  early  showed  decided  talent.  Landscapes  and 
architectural  drawing  especially  attracted  him,  and,  though 
he  never  devoted  much  time  to  this  accomplishment,  but 
practised  it  only  in  spare  moments,  he  enjoyed  throughout 
his  life  the  ready  use  of  his  pencil.  Sketching  was,  in  after 
years,  one  of  his  pleasantest  recreations.  When  on  a  jour- 
ney, or  at  his  desk,  as  a  rest  after  more  exhausting  labor, 
many  an  exquisite  crayon,  pencil  and  pen  and  ink  sketch, 
came  into  being  under  the  masterly  touch  of  his  delicate 
fingers. 

His  father  had  desired  that  while  at  Blaubeuren  he  should 
have  lessons  on  the  piano.  Prof  Pfleiderer  engaged  a  teacher 
for  him.  After  half  a  dozen  lessons,  the  unfortunate  in- 
structor informed  the  professor  that  Julius  had  dismissed 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  25 

liim,  and  positively  refused  to  take  another  lesson,  because 
he  could  give  the  boy  no  satisfacton- explanation  why  some 
notes  sounded  well  when  played  together  and  others  did  not. 
The  professor  stated  the  case  in  a  letter  to  Julius'  father,  and 
received  the  wise  reply  to  say  nothing  to  the  boy;  the  father 
would  question  him  about  it  in  the  vacation.  On  his  first 
visit  home  after  this  incident,  his  father  asked  whether  he 
had  made  any  progress  in  music.  Julius  went  at  once  to 
the  piano  and  played  without  notes  several  of  the  simpler 
German  chorals.  The  playing  displayed  a  decided  knowl- 
edge of  thoroughbass,  and  his  father,  moved  and  astonished, 
embraced  his  boy.  Julius  explained  that  the  teacher  was 
not  good,  so  he  had  procured  some  books  on  thoroughbass, 
and  had  studied  the  fugues  of  Bach  and  the  German  chorals, 
and  could  now  help  himself.  Some  years  after,  he  took  les- 
sons for  three  months  from  a  competent  teacher  of  counter- 
point. This  talent  he  never  allowed  to  grow  rusty.  He 
loved  music,  and  his  ability  to  extemporize,  his  ready  pro- 
duction of  melodies,  his  rich,  full  harmonies,  and  his  singu- 
larly agile  fingers,  that  betrayed  no  lack  of  practice,  though 
they  never  had  time  for  the  thorough  drill  good  players  are 
wont  to  have,  made  his  playing  a  pleasure  to  himself  and  a 
source  of  great  and  deep  enjoyment  to  those  who  heard  him. 

It  was  customar>'  at  Blaubeuren  for  the  first  boy  in  one  of 
the  classes  to  request  permission  of  the  Dean  to  begin  the 
spring  and  fall  vacations.  Before  the  assembled  school,  this 
petition  was  always  presented  in  the  form  of  German  verse 
or  in  a  Latin  distich,  composed  for  the  occasion  by  the 
pupil.  Julius,  as  the  head  of  his  class,  was  several  times 
honored  with  this  commission  when  about  eleven  or  twelve 
years  old. 

Unlike  the  long  vacation  necessitated  by  our  hot  summers, 
recess  from  school- work  is  given  twice  in  the  year  in  Ger- 
many. And  whether  it  was  freedom  for  three  weeks  in  the 
lovely  month  of  June,  when  the  roses  are  in  bloom  and  the 
berries  ripen,  or  whether  it  was  the  October  holiday,  when 


26  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

the  rich  glories  of  the  autumn  fruits  and  flowers  are  dis- 
played, vacation  was  the  word  full  of  endless  possibilities  and 
happiness  to  the  youthful  ' '  Lateiner. ' '  For  Julius  and  his 
brothers  it  opened  with  the  delightful  experiences  of  the 
journey  home.  Brother  Rudolph  came  over  from  Tuebingen 
to  direct  the  transportation  of  the  three  young  recruits  to 
home  quarters.  A  jolly  time  they  had  of  it  on  the  stage 
coach,  winding  over  the  old  road  to  Urach,  in  its  picturesque 
beauty,  and  then  across  the  Alb,  passing  the  Hohen  Nueffen, 
crowned  with  its  noble  ruins,  to  Nuertingen,  where  a  stop 
was  made  at  Grandmother  Gentner's,  until  finally  the  joy- 
ful arrival  at  the  dear  home  in  Stuttgart  crowned  the 
journey. 

The  vacations,  when  the  boys  were  little,  were  often  spent 
at  Nuertingen,  where  excursions  to  the  neighboring  hills 
and  ruins  of  the  Suabian  Alb,  and  bathing  in  the  Neckar, 
were  amusements  they  gladly  patronized. 

In  1833  Julius  was  entered  at  the  Gymnasium  Illustre  at 
Stuttgart,  where  he  finished  the  course,  preparatory  to  enter- 
ing the  University  at  Tuebingen.  He  was  fourteen  years 
old  at  that  time,  and  he  was  in  the  parental  home  from  this 
to  his  nineteenth  year. 

At  the  gymnasium,  under  the  care  of  such  men  as  Prof. 
Von  Klumpp,  Oberstudienrat  von  Cless,  Profs.  Gustav 
Schwab,  Gottfried  Klaiber,  and  others  of  equal  eminence 
and  learning,  Julius,  ever  alert,  energetic  and  anxious  to 
gather  knowledge,  developed  rapidly.  From  the  time  he 
could  think  and  talk  he  had  expressed  the  desire  to  study 
theology.  But  all  subjects  possessed  a  deep  interest  for 
him,  and  all  his  professors  found  him  an  enthusiastic  student 
and  earnest  listener. 

Soon  after  he  began  the  study  of  natural  philosophy,  he 
betook  himself  to  the  basement  to  "make  experiments." 
The  family  was  occasionally  frightened  by  an  unexpected 
detonation  from  those  dark  quarters.  Once,  while  attempt- 
ing to  make  hydrogen  gas  from  zinc  and  sulphuric  acid, 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  2^ 

there  was  so  serious  an  explosion  that  the  young  chemist 
was  stunned. 

The  silver  medals  which  he  earned  as  primus  of  his 
class  at  the  gymnasium,  the  smaller  ones  with  the  sugges- 
tive busy-bee  on  one  side,  and  on  the  reverse,  "Sunt  sua- 
praemia  laudi"  ;  and  the  larger  one  bearing  an  owl  with 
outstretched  wings,  resting  on  a  martial-looking  hehnet, 
and  the  inscription,  "Plus  ultra.  Gymn.  Reg.  Stuttg.",  lie 
before  me.  He  always  kept  them  with  other  souvenirs  of 
school  da}s  in  a  drawer  of  his  writing-desk. 

In  the  spring  of  '33,  preparatory  to  being  received  into 
the  church,  Julius  attended  the  catechetical  instruction  of 
the  beloved  pastor  and  friend  of  the  family.  Prelate  Chris- 
tian Adam  Dann.  The  ministrations  of  this  great,  whole- 
souled,  gifted  Christian  teacher,  who  possessed  a  peculiarly 
happy  manner  of  approaching  the  young,  were  blessed  to 
many  souls.  Julius  IVIann  ever  remembered  him  with 
deepest  gratitude,  esteem  and  love,  and  recognized  as  an 
inspiration  to  living  piety  the  impressions  received  during 
the  hours  he  sat  at  his  feet. 

Wilhelm  Hofacker,  the  renowned  pulpit  orator,  was  at 
this  time  the  assistant  pastor  of  Prelate  Dann.  As  a  fre- 
quent visitor  in  Julius'  home,  he,  too,  took  great  interest 
in  the  promising  boy.  A  volume  of  his  brother's,  the 
gifted  Ludwig  Hofacker's  sermons,  with  an  affectionate 
inscription,  he  presented  to  Julius  on  the  evening  preceding 
his  confirmation,  which  took  place  on  the  13th  of  May, 
1833,  in  St.  Leonard's  Church. 

In  the  summer  of  '34,  the  brothers  made  a  foot-tour  over 
the  long  stretch  of  the  Suabian  Albs,  visiting  the  historic 
fortresses  that  crown  their  heights.  From  the  ancestral 
home  of  the  imperial  Hohenstaufen  and  the  Rechberg, 
through  the  Lenninger  Thai  to  the  Teck,  and  through  the 
Urach  Thai  to  Hohen  Urach  and  the  water-fall,  as  lively 
pedestrians,  they  wandered. 

Another  time,  from  Reutlingen  and  Honau,  they  went  to 


28  MEMOIR   OP  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

the  romantic  Lichtenstein,  most  picturesque  on  its  rocky 
prominence,  and  visited  also  the  wonderful  Nebelhoehle,  a 
grotto,  not  far  from  it.  Sometimes  on  these  tours,  their 
(Cousins,  the  Ottos  of  Nuertingen,  or  the  Kaspers  of  Stutt- 
gart, or,  perhaps.  Uncle  Karl  Gentner,  the  devoted  friend 
of  his  nephews,  accompanied  them. 

In  the  summer  of  '35,  a  more  ambitious  undertaking 
was  planned  by  Charles  and  Julius :  they  wanted  to  go 
over  the  Black  Forest  mountains  to  Strassburg,  where  the 
lofty  Minster  was  their  journey's  aim.  Mamma  was  con- 
tent to  let  them  go,  and  papa  said  :  "Make  your  plans  and 
study  your  route  ;  I  will  see  that  you  do  not  want  for 
money."  Making  the  greater  part  of  the  journey  on  foot, 
the  better  to  enjoy  the  romantic  beauties  of  the  Black  For- 
est, and  happy  in  their  youthful  strength  and  enthusiasm, 
they  wandered  gaily  over  hill  and  dale.  Many  pleasant  and 
humorous  incidents  occurred  on  the  way  that  they  often 
recalled  in  after  years.  The  great  Cathedral  was  studied 
with  enthusiasm  and  from  the  height  of  the  platform  and 
the  spire  they  viewed  the  distant  prospect.  More  than 
fifty  years  afterwards,  Dr.  Mann,  when  visiting  Strassburg, 
again  stood  on  the  high  platform  of  the  Minster  to  enjoy, 
as  he  had  in  his  boyhood,  the  view  of  the  distant  moun- 
tains and  the  Gothic  tracery  of  the  noble  spire. 

It  was  during  the  winter  of  1835,  that  Julius  had  a  class- 
mate at  the  gymnasium  with  whom  the  close  bond  of 
friendship  soon  united  him.  This  was  Philip  Schafif,  who, 
born  at  Chur,  Switzerland,  had  come  to  Stuttgart  to  attend 
the  gymnasium  illustre.  So  much  in  sympathy  were  the 
two  enthusiastic,  aspiring  and  studious  youths,  that  their 
happiness  was  only  completed  when  Philip  Schafif  accepted 
the  invitation  of  Julius'  parents  to  make  his  home  with 
them  during  his  sojourn  in  Stuttgart. 

So  the  friends  shared  the  same  room,  studied  together, 
walked  and  lived  almost  as  one  heart  and  one  soul,  in  noble 
emulation  spurring  each  other  on  in  the  race  for  knowledge. 


SCHOOL  DAYS.  29 

The  friendship  thus  auspiciously  begun,  grew  and  strength- 
ened with  the  years,  and  was  destined  in  the  future  to 
materially  influence  the  course  of  events  in  the  life  of 
William  Julius  Mann,  By  his  parents  and  brothers,  his 
friend,  Philip  Schaff,  was  looked  upon  as  one  of  the  family, 
a  deep  and  abiding  affection,  uniting  them  all  through  life. 

Julius  usually  enjoyed  excellent  health.  But  during  the 
last  year  at  the  gymnasium,  too  close  application  to  study 
and  the  neglect  of  gymnastics  and  out-door  exercise — he 
even  refused  during  that  winter  to  take  a  course  of  riding 
lessons,  as  his  parents  desired,  pleading  too  many  other 
interests — made  him  ill.  He  left  the  gymnasium  with  the 
highest  honors  ;  but  was  unable  because  of  sickness  to  attend 
the  examinations  for  entry  into  the  "Stiff  at  Tuebingen. 
This  in  no  wise  unfavorably  affected  his  career,  however, 
for  he  made  use  of  his  family's  privileges  to  the  Neue  Bar. 
and  matriculated  at  the  University  in  the  following  autumn. 

He  was  at  that  time  in  his  nineteenth  year.  His  figure 
wanted  perhaps  an  inch  of  being  six  feet  in  height ;  he  was 
well  proportioned  and  erect,  his  square  shoulders  giving 
him  an  almost  soldierly  bearing.  He  was  too  active  ever 
to  be  stout ;  but  he  was  robust  and  strong.  His  movements 
were  very  quick ;  he  was  a  rapid  walker  and  talker,  and 
gestures  came  naturally  with  the  intensity  of  his  thought 
or  feeling.  His  hair  was  worn  long,  in  the  prevailing 
fashion,  and  a  lock  of  it  covered  the  left  side  of  his  high, 
broad  forehead.  His  bluish  grey  eyes  that  in  excitement 
or  enthusiasm  became  almost  black,  then  already  looked 
through  the  spectacles,  which  nearsightedness  made  neces- 
sary. His  lips  in  those  days  were  fuller  than  in  later  life, 
and  his  mouth,  around  which  the  deep  characteristic  lines 
were  not  yet  strongly  marked,  betrayed  an  unmistakable 
humor  and  kindliness.  In  the  strong  contour  of  the  lower 
part  of  his  face,  he  much  resembled  his  father,  while  his 
eyes  and  the  liveliness  of  spirit  that  looked  forth  from 
them  were  an  inheritance  from  his  mother. 


I 


CHAPTER    IV. 

UNIVERSITY  LIFE.     1 837-1 841. 
Journeys  during  Vacations.     First  Literary  Work. 

N  "Tuebingen  am  Neckars  Strand,  die  schoenste  Stadt 
im  ganzen  Land,"  and  there,  in  the  "  Neue  Ban," 
whose  privileges  he  shared  for  about  two  years  with  thirty- 
five  of  his  kinsmen,  we  find  the  young  student  of  theology 
in  the  autumn  of  1837.  Here  study  was  the  watchword,  as 
it  had  been  for  years  before ;  but  the  youth  had  now  de- 
veloped ;  there  was  a  solid  basis  of  learning  on  which  to 
erect  the  further  structure,  and  in  the  atmosphere  of  the 
University,  with  friends  and  fellow-students  of  the  same 
mind  and  same  aspirations,  life  gained  new  features  and 
study  new  joys. 

Who  could  live  in  a  University  town,  and  above  all,  a 
German  University  town,  and  not  feel  that  subtle  some- 
thing in  the  air  that  bids  the  spirit  stretch  its  wings  and 
the  soul  open  its  portals  !  Even  those  who  know  of  it  only 
from  hearsay  can  dimly  imagine  something  of  the  exalta- 
tion. The  constant  contact  with  intelligence  and  thorough 
culture,  not  in  intercourse  with  professors  only,  but  with 
gifted  fellow-students ;  the  inspiring  companionships  and 
enthusiastic  friendships ;  the  touch  of  mind  with  mind, 
discovering  contrasts  and  affinities ;  the  food  for  ideal  ten- 
dencies ;  the  whole  broad  domain  of  thought,  which  here 
opens  wide  its  inviting  paths  and  displays  its  victories, 
callino-  ever  for  new  armies  and  new  heroes,  tend  to  take 
the  prosaic  out  of  the  student's  years  and  infuse  into  his 
life  an  intensity  that  is  carried  over  into  his  work. 
30 


UNIVERSITY   LIFE.  3 1 

An  earnest  purpose  in  life  and  a  social  nature  cultivated 
by  the  best  home  surroundings,  as  well  as  his  thorough 
classical  studies,  prepared  Julius  Mann  to  make  the  best  use 
of  his  University  years.  In  the  "Neue  Bau"  each  student 
had  his  own  sleeping  apartment  and  beside  this  a  sitting- 
room  in  common  with  one  fellow-student.  These  two 
shared  the  ser\'ices  of  a  man,  who  attended  to  their  wants 
and  looked  after  their  comforts.  The  meals  were  partaken 
of  at  a  common  table  by  all  who  enjoyed  the  privileges  of 
the  foundation.  Here  conversation  flowed  and  wit  waxed 
bright.  Humor  was  the  atmosphere  in  which  these  young 
people  lived  ;  and  there  were  among  them  some  brilliant 
minds  and  original  thinkers. 

To  the  friendships  of  those  years,  some  of  which  began 
at  the  g}-mnasium  in  Stuttgart,  Dr.  Mann  always  referred 
with  aflfectionate  and  grateful  remembrance.  He  had  very 
naturally,  so  near  his  own  home  and  with  the  opportunities 
the  University  afforded,  a  large  circle  of  acquaintances. 
Beside  his  friend  Philip  Schaflf,  who  spent  two  years  at 
Tuebiugen,  Hermann  Eytel  and  Gustav  Schmoller  were 
his  most  constant  associates.  Both,  afterwards  honored 
laborers  in  the  Church  of  Wurtemberg,  were  his  corre- 
spondents as  long  as  they  lived.  A  neat  package  of  letters 
from  William  Gleiss,  letters  from  William  Fred.  Gess,  in 
after  years  Superintendent  of  the  Church  in  Posen,  Prussia, 
affectionate  references  in  his  diaries  to  "my  friend  Eipper," 
Kapff,  Gabriel  Marsteller,  "our  Englishman  Coles,"  and 
others,  prove  that  the  connections  with  a  number  of  fellow- 
students  were  near  and  dear.  A  letter  from  Theodore 
Wurm,  another  intimate  associate  of  that  time,  written 
some  years  after  both  had  entered  the  active  ministry,  says, 
"Six  years  have  passed  since  you  and  I  reviewed  our 
history  of  Dogmatics  from  Pelagius  and  Augustine  under 
the  lindens  at  Tuebiugen  ;  and  two,  since  I  bade  you  fare- 
well at  Neuhausen.  Our  meetings  and  our  many  conver- 
sations in  your  room — always  in  such  exemplary  order ! — 


32  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

and  the  charming  view  of  the  Neckar  from  your  windows, 
I  have  still  in  very  lively  and  delightful  remembrance. ' ' 

Ancient  and  modern  philosophy,  metaphysics  and  aesthe- 
tics as  well  as  the  lectures  more  directly  bearing  upon 
theology  found  in  Mr.  Mann  an  earnest  and  enthusiastic 
student.  Led  by  the  great  leaders  of  thought  and  founders 
of  systems  in  the  domain  of  German  metaphysics,  Kant, 
Fichte,  Schelling,  Hegel,  he  wandered  in  the  regions  of 
abstract  thought.  Hegel,  in  whom  he  appreciated  the 
"ethical  feeling,  the  high  intellectual  strain,  and  the  faith 
in  a  spirit,  far  as  it  was  from  being  spirit  and  truth," 
attracted  and  satisfied  him  most.  In  referring  to  the  strug- 
gles of  his  mind  to  free  itself  from  the  indefiniteness  and 
obscurity  of  an  unphilosophical  view  of  life,  and  his  efforts 
to  rise  to  that  calm  height  from  which  a  clearer  view  of  self 
and  the  world  around  is  obtained,  he  often  gratefully  laid 
tributes  at  the  feet  of  "Father  Hegel." 

In  his  studies,  he  took  a  rather  independent  course  and 
heard  only  those  professors  to  whom  he  felt  specially  drawn, 
or  from  whose  lectures  he  felt  that  he  could  gain  more  than 
by  private  study.  With  Professor  Dr.  Kern,  he  heard 
apologetics,  dogmatics  and  the  Epistle  to  the  Hebrews ; 
with  Professor  Fischer,  the  enthusiastic  disciple  of  Schel- 
ling, ancient  and  religious  philosophy  and  aesthetics  ;  with 
Dr.  Ewald,  Introduction  to  the  Old  Testament ;  with  Pro- 
fessor Oehler,  the  Theology  of  the  Old  Testament.  But 
the  professors  under  whom  he  sat,  whose  names  are  most 
widely  known,  were  Prof.  Dr.  Christian  Ferdinand  Baur 
and  Prof.  Dr.  Christian  Friedrich  Schmid. 

These  men  represented  the  extreme  negative  and  positive 
teaching  of  Christianity  at  Tuebingen  during  that  period. 
The  old  supra-naturalistic  school  had  given  place,  on  the 
one  side,  to  a  materialistic  criticism  that  developed  into 
rationalism,  and  on  the  other,  to  a  finn  conviction  of  the 
truth  of  revelation.  A  few  years  before,  the  unknown 
"Repetent"  of  the  Tuebingen  "Stift,"   David  Friedrich 


UNIVERSITY    LIFE.  33 

Strauss,  had  made  himself  famous  and  startled  the  Chris- 
tian world  by  his  "Life  of  Christ."  Dr.  Baur  was  "the 
real  founder  of  the  so-called  modem  Tuebingen  school," 
though  he  had  not  at  that  period  advanced  to  the  extreme 
negative  position  which  he  held  in  later  years.  His  Exec^et- 
ical  lectures  and  those  on  the  History  of  Dogmatics  and 
Church  History  were  the  productions  of  a  man  of  rich  and 
thorough  learning  and  of  the  mind  of  a  deep  philosophical 
thinker. 

In  the  many-sided  opinions  and  fermentations  of  the  day, 
William  Julius  I\Iann  found  strong  guidance  in  the  teach- 
ings of  Dr.   Schmid,  a  warm  Christian  theologian,  whose 
deep   reverence   for  the   Scriptures,   evangelical    freedom, 
strong,  earnest  personality,  and  broad  and  many-sided  cul- 
ture, possessed  for  him  the  strongest  attraction.      He  was 
Professor  of  New  Testament  Exegesis,  Ethics  and  Homi- 
letics.     His  fine  critical   ability  and   his   deep   and   clear 
analysis  of  the  Bible-text  was  of  inestimable  value  to  his 
students ;   as  was  also  the  manner  in  which  he  directed 
their  homiletical  and  catechetical  exercises,  which  he  fre- 
quently  enlivened    with    good-natured,    though   at   times 
somewhat  sharp  and  ironical,  criticisms.     Throughout  his 
life,  Dr.   IMann  gratefully  recalled  Dr.   Schmid's  influence 
upon  him.     In  an  article  he  wrote  fifty  years  afterwards, 
referring  to  the  great  teachers  and  preachers  of  Wurtem- 
berg,  he  speaks  of  the  "noble,  truly  evangelical  and  deep 
student  of  God's  word,  Prof.  Dr.  Schmid,  whose  teaching 
was  richly  blessed  to  many  young  students  of  theology  and 
who  was  a  goodly  protection  in  the  wily  attacks  of  the 
spirit  of  the  times." 

He  made  conscientious  use  of  his  university  years,  and 
in  the  energy  of  his  nature  as  well  as  in  his  earnest  view  of 
life,  he  found  an  inexhaustible  stimulus.  His  poetical  gift 
that  had  taken  modest  boyish  flights  in  earlier  days,  when 
awakened  by  some  family  celebration  or  some  happy  event 
in  the  life  of  a  friend,  was  not  neglected.  Here  and  there 
3 


34  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

he  wrote  poems,  imaginative,  liumorons,  or  perhaps  full  of 
deep  and  tender  sentiment.  A  neat  little  package  of  them 
lies  before  me,  marked  "disjecta  membra  poetse,"  Some 
aphorisms,  also,  on  the  great  problems  of  life,  written  at 
that  time,  are  full  of  deep,  clear  and  original  thought. 

I  venture  to  translate  one  or  two,  and  one  short  poem  in 
German  will  perhaps  not  be  imwelcome,  as  indicative  of 
the  character  and  style  of  that  early  period. 

' '  Karth  is  the  trembling  ladder  between  hell  and  heaven  ; 
whoever,  dizzy  from  watching  the  whirlpool  below,  falls,  is 
driven,  wrecked  and  defeated,  to  the  dreary  shore  of  hell ; 
but  whoever,  gazing  up  through  the  crystal  ether,  follows 
the  soul's  magnet,  holy  light,  is  led  through  death,  the 
borderland  of  life,  to  the  realms  of  the  eternal  Prince  of 
Peace." 

"All  recognize  the  truly  excellent,  as  though  the  proto- 
type of  truth  dwelt  in  every  soul ;  but  man  is  a  jewel  whose 
light,  only  after  toilsome  polishing  of  the  surface,  shines 
from  the  inmost  centre." 

"Life  is  a  Bethesda  Pool,  and  religion  the  angel  that 
from  time  to  time  troubles  the  waters ;  blessed  is  the  soul 
that  is  not  too  hopelessly  crippled  to  dip  its  members  in  the 
life-and-peace-giving  waves. ' ' 

' '  A  few  tears  are  sometimes  the  best  poem. ' ' 

"  Egypt's  Pyramids,  Athens'  ruins,  and  Rome's  St.  Peter 
are  mile-stones  in  the  race  course  of  the  human  mind. ' ' 

"DIE  GROSSE  SCHIFFAHRT." 

"Es  ziehet  sclinelle 
Die  weite  Bahn 
Auf  dunkler  Welle 
Ein  leichter  Kabu  ; 
Es  tobeu  nianche  Stuerme, 
Es  gibt  der  Klippeu  viel, 
Doch  uuter  'm  ew'gem  Scbirme 
Gelangt  der  Kahn  zum  Ziel  ! 

Das  Auge  dunkelt 
Dem,  der  driu  rubt ; 


UNIVERSITY   UFE.  35 

Ein  Sternlein  fuukelt, 
Stacrkt  ihrn  deu  Muth  ; 
Von  wo  er  hergekoinmen 
Das  ist  ihm  unbekaunt, 
Dock  hat  er  viel  vernommen 
Von  eiuem  fremden  Laud. 

Ein  maechtig  Sehuen 
Im  Herzen  drin 
Zieht  unter  Thrasnen 
Ihn  oft  dorthin  ; 
Schon  tagt  aus  weiter  Feme 
Ein  goldner  Morgen  auf, 
O  Scliifflein,  willst  du  gerne 
Vollenden  deinen  Lauf  ? 

Der  Anker  falle 

Im  HoflFnungsport, 

Der  Fremdling  walle 

Zur  Heimath  dort ; 

Er  kommt  mit  Dank  und  Beteu, 

Das  Kreuz  hoch  in  der  Hand, 

Zu  dir  mit  ew'gem  Leben 

Stadt  Gottes,  Heimathland !" 

The  love  of  nature  and  the  exquisite  charms  she  unfolds 
round  about  Tuebingen  often  drove  the  student  forth  from 
books  and  lecture  halls  to  wander  in  congenial  company- 
over  hill  and  dale.  Or,  perhaps,  a  horse-back  ride  was 
taken  to  the  Chapel  at  Wurmlingen,  or  to  lyustnau  and 
the  old  Gothic  monastery  of  Bebenhausen.  Tuebingen, 
itself,  is  most  picturesque,  rising  on  the  mountain's  side 
from  the  Neckar's  shore,  where  are  the  historic  linden 
walks,  to  the  venerable  castle,  that  crowns  and  commands 
the  town.  In  the  once  martial  halls,  the  muses  have  long 
since  taken  their  abode  ;  and  the  castle  walls  harbor  the 
library,  the  museum,  the  astronomical  observ^atory  and 
other  appendages  of  the  University.  The  view  from  the 
castle  commands  the  Neckar  valley,  bordered  by  the  lovely 
vine-clad  hills,  a  scene  of  charming  beauty.  The  narrow, 
crooked  streets  of  the  town,  many  of  them  more  like  stone 


36  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

stair-cases  than  streets,  are  quaint  and  old  as  the  high- 
roofed  houses  that  gaze  upon  them  through  queer  little 
windows. 

Visits  home,  when  time  permitted,  were  much  relished 
interruptions  in  the  routine  of  work.  Often,  disdaining 
the  post-chaise,  Julius  and  his  comrades  walked  from  Tue- 
bingen  to  Stuttgart,  despite  the  seven  intervening  hills. 
The  fine  highway,  part  of  the  ancient,  much-frequented 
road  between  Ulm  and  Schaffhausen,  was  well  patronized 
in  those  ante-railroad  days.  At  four  in  the  morning,  the 
start  was  made  and  about  noon  the  familiar  spires  of  Stutt- 
gart gleamed  a  welcome  to  the  wanderers,  who  scorned  to 
think  such  pedestrian  efforts  taxing  ;  but  who  relished  the 
more,  after  the  long  walk,  the  comforts  and  companion- 
ships of  home. 

In  the  long  vacations,  with  a  knapsack  slung  across  his 
shoulders,  and  with  one  or  two  of  his  dearest  friends,  Julius 
took  some  most  delightful  journeys.  His  father  encouraged 
him  to  travel,  desiring  him  to  store  his  memory  with  beau- 
tiful scenes.  "Travel  now,"  he  wrote,  when  asked  whether 
the  money  for  that  purpose  should  not  be  expended  in 
books,  "and  when  you  are  settled  in  life  it  will  be  time 
enough  to  collect  a  library. ' ' 

To  Hechingen  and  the  old  ancestral  HohenzoUern  that, 
despite  the  vicissitudes  of  many  centuries,  so  proudly  raises 
its  mighty  walls  over  the  Suabian  Alb,  they  wandered 
many  times  ;  or  they  extended  the  journey  to  the  distant 
Hoehgau  and  the  heights  of  the  Hohentwiel,  with  its  stir- 
ring associations  and  its  superb  view  of  Lake  Constance  and 
the  Tyrolese  and  Swiss  Alps.  ' '  Eckehart ' '  had  not  yet 
made  the  old  castle  familiar  to  all  lovers  of  German  liter- 
ature ;  but  proud  stories  of  German  bravery  and  endurance 
made  its  history  as  dear  to  the  visitors  as  the  glorious  pros- 
pect made  it  enjoyable. 

And  far  beyond  the  boundaries  of  Wurtemberg  some 
tours  extended.     Across  Lake  Constance  to  the  glorious 


UNIVERSITY   LIFE.  37 

Alps,  a  strong  desire  drew  the  enthusiastic  lover  of  nature. 
In  repeated  tours  he  wandered  over  most  of  northern  and 
central  Switzerland.  Ragatz  and  Bad  PfefFers,  the  Axen- 
strasse  and  the  Rigi,  the  Haslithal  and  Grimsel,  the  Maien- 
wand  and  Rhone  Glacier,  the  icy  cradles  of  the  Hinter 
and  Vorder  Rhine  displayed  their  charms  to  him  as  they 
unfold  only  to  the  leisurely  pedestrian.  Descriptions  of 
his  journeys,  with  the  humorous  or  specially  interesting 
incidents  pleasantly  interwoven,  were  wont  to  gratify  his 
parents  as  Christmas  or  birthday  offerings. 

"But  he  wanted  to  scale,"  as  he  afterwards  wrote,  "the 
mighty  wall  of  the  Alps  and  see  Italy,  the  land  that  since 
thousands  of  years  has  awakened  in  the  peoples  of  the  North 
a  longing  like  that  for  some  lost  Eden."  And  so,  in  the 
summer  of  '39,  with  his  friend,  Theodore  Wurm,  he  went 
by  way  of  the  Austrian  Tyrol  across  the  Stelvio  Pass,  near 
the  glaciers  and  snow-fields  of  the  Ortler,  to  the  vine- clad 
slopes  of  the  Valtellina,  and  by  way  of  Como  and  Mag- 
giore  to  Milan.  Its  art  treasures  and,  above  all,  its  superb 
cathedral  were  a  source  of  great  delight.  To  his  enthusi- 
astic appreciation  of  the  great  Gothic  cathedral  he  gave 
expression  in  a  descriptive  and  reflective  essay,  that  is  rich 
in  thought  and  language.  This  was  the  first  product  of 
his  pen  that  appeared  in  print.  He  sent  it  to  his  friend. 
Rev.  Dr.  Bartli,  the  gifted,  whole-souled  advocate  of  Chris- 
tian missions,  and  the  editor  of  papers  for  the  young  ;  a 
man  of  great  powers  and  many-sided  culture,  who  had 
asked  him  to  contribute  to  the  Jugettd  Blaettcr.  Dr. 
Barth  encouraged  his  young  friend  to  send  other  articles, 
and  at  that  time  gave  him  the  advice  about  writing  for  the 
young  to  which,  in  after  years,  he  often  referred,  and  which 
he  put  into  practice  :  "  Use  short  sentences  ;  children  have 
small  lungs." 

In  September,  1841,  the  final  examinations  at  the  Uni- 
versity were  passed  with  honors,  and  with  the  departure 
from  Tuebingen  and  all  its  inspiring  associations,  the  first 


38  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

mile-stone  on  life's  journey  was  passed.  No  wonder  that 
the  more  serious  youth  looks  forward  to  the  sterner  respon- 
sibilities of  coming  years  with  a  gravity  before  unknown, 
and  who  will  reproach  him  if,  at  the  turning,  he  gazes  half 
in  regret  on  the  glowing  perspective  of  study's  luxuriant 
seed-time,  boyhood's  merry  light-heartedness,  and  child- 
hood's innocent  play  ? 


CHAPTER  V. 

BOENNIGHEIM.     NEUHAUSEN.     1841-1845. 
First  Work  as  Teacher  and  Pastor. 

T^HE  young  theologian  did  not  at  once  enter  the  active 
-'•  ministr>^  but,  shortly  after  his  graduation,  accepted  a 
position  as  teacher  of  ancient  languages  and  history,  in  an 
educational  institute  for  boys  in  the  town  of  Boennigheim, 
Wurtemberg.  Dr.  C.  M.  Hahn,  the  founder  and  head  of  the 
school,  had  an  able  corps  of  assistants,  among  whom  were 
several  young  clerg}'men.  The  institution  was  of  a  high 
standard,  and  attracted  its  patrons  by  the  advantages  it 
offered  for  laying  a  good  moral  and  classical  foundation. 
The  pupils  were  boys  between  ten  and  sixteen  years  of  age  ; 
and  in  the  management  of  the  young  people  entrusted  to 
his  care,  Mr.  Mann  found  opportunity  for  the  exercise  of  his 
own  powers,  and,  in  his  work,  gained  experience  and  new 
lessons  in  practical  Christianity. 

The  love  of  teaching  was  one  of  his  characteristic  traits. 
He  possessed,  in  a  high  degree,  the  power  of  incitation,  and 
to  present  a  subject  clearly  to  his  pupils,  to  make  it  alive 
with  interest,  to  awaken  their  thoughts  and  to  hold  their 
attention  was  his  delight.  The  diar>^  of  those  years  testifies 
to  his  personal  interest  in  the  boys,  his  earnest  study  of  their 
character,  his  appreciation  of  their  faults  and  their  virtues, 
and  the  effect  of  these  upon  their  future.  While  he  helped 
them  to  acquire  knowledge,  it  is  evident  he  also  sought  in 
the  best  way  to  help  them  overcome  their  failings.  He 
writes,  "  I  have  prayed  with  S.  several  times  of  late.  God 
give   that  it  may  help  him.      The   boy  is   not  so  easy  to 

39 


40  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

understand."  And  again,  "  I  have  spoken  with  F.  about 
the  tendencies  which  threaten  to  endanger  his  future.  He 
is  slug-ofish  and  cannot  soar  to  the  reahns  of  the  ideal." 
"  I  had  Karl  F.  with  me  the  greater  part  of  the  morning. 
I  demonstrated  to  him  various  things  in  physics,  and  again 
convinced  myself  that  this  discipline  is  well  adapted  to  boys 
of  from  twelve  to  fourteen  years. ' ' 

He  is  not  easily  satisfied  with  the  result  of  examinations, 
one  of  which  he  expressively  describes  as  ' '  heillos. ' '  He 
evidently  expects  good  work,  but  is  also  quick  to  appreciate 
industry  and  earnestness.  Not  infrequently  the  diary  re- 
cords the  praises  of  the  school  :  ' '  The  boys  are  industrious 
and  can  scarcely  accomplish  all  they  have  to  do.  I  pur- 
posely gave  a  short  lesson  in  Latin.  Our  dear  youths  (die 
liebe  Jugend)  at  present  deserve  high  praise  ;  they  are  so 
quiet  and  orderly,  a  word  is  sufficient  to  guide  them. ' ' 

He  fully  realized  the  deep  responsibility  of  the  teacher, 
and  earnestly  and  prayerfully  reviewed  his  work.  After 
one  of  his  searching  self-examinations,  he  exclaims :  ' '  When 
I  consider  the  weakness  of  my  own  heart,  how  can  I  hope 
to  educate  the  boys?"  "  A  teacher,"  he  says  on  another 
occasion,  "must,  in  truth,  be  thankful  not  to  injure  the 
young  souls  under  his  care.  Of  himself  he  cannot  make 
them  grow. ' '  In  the  second  year  of  his  connection  with 
the  school,  he  writes,  "My  interest  in  our  institution  and 
love  for  it  has  not  diminished,  but  I  have  no  longer  that 
first  absorbing  enthusiasm  for  the  work,  and  therewith  I 
have  lost  some  fire  and  energy,  and  that,  not,  perhaps,  to 
the  detriment  of  my  teaching.  What  a  comfort  it  is  to  me 
to  feel  that  God  does  not  cease  to  educate  me  !  Would 
that  I  were  more  ready  to  heed  His  lessons  !' ' 

And  the  boys  repaid,  with  sincere  appreciation  and  love, 
the  devotion  he  brought  to  the  cause.  A  letter  written  by 
the  father  of  two  of  his  pupils,  after  he  resigned  his  position 
in  Boennigheim  to  become  vicarius  (assistant  pastor)  in 
Neuhausen,  richly  testifies  to  the  esteem  with  which  his 


FIRST  WORK   AS   TEACHER   AND   PASTOR.  4 1 

pupils  regarded  him:  "Your  departure  from  B.  comes  to 
me  like  a  shock,  aud  I  feel  it  will  be  an  irreparable  loss  to 
my  sons  no  longer  to  be  under  your  instructions  and  guid- 
ance. Ariel  in  his  last  letter  to  me  expressed  deep  grief  at 
your  going  aud  he  thinks  he  has  lost  a  friend  who  cannot 
be  replaced." 

In  the  amusements  and  recreations  of  the  boys  he  took  a 
lively  interest.  Frequently  he  refers  to  his  pleasure  in  their 
gymnastic  exercises.  The  teachers  prepared  a  book  of  songs 
for  the  use  of  the  boys  in  marching,  and  in  this  work  he 
participated  by  composing  for  it  a  number  of  songs.  Another 
time  he  writes,  ' '  To-day  each  boy  has  had  a  small  garden- 
plot  portioned  out  to  him  ;  "  and  again,  "In  this  fine  spring 
weather  we  enjoy  our  walks  more  than  ever. ' ' 

The  social  intercourse  with  his  colleagues,  Dr.  Hahn,  the 
head  of  the  Institute,  Rev.  Kleinmann,  the  pastor  of  Boen- 
nigheim  and  the  assistant,  Vicarius  K.,  afforded  an  agree- 
able interruption  to  the  routine  of  work.  At  the  same  time 
beside  the  lively  intercourse  with  his  home,  he  carried  on 
a  voluminous  correspondence  with  University  friends.  He 
enjoyed  the  stimulating  company  of  the  other  teachers  and 
many  were  their  conferences  on  the  work  of  the  school,  the 
progress  of  the  pupils  and  kindred  topics.  In  one  of  these, 
impelled  by  the  interest,  energy  and  fervor  of  his  friend 
for  the  cause,  one  of  the  faculty  exclaimed,  "Mann,  you 
are  born  to  be  a  teacher  in  a  boy's  institute,  and  shall  live 
to  be  Inspector  at  Boennigheim. 

Among  his  associates,  the  young  Vicarius  K.  attracted 
him  most.  When  in  February,  '44,  this  friend  leaves  Boen- 
nigheim for  another  field  of  labor,  the  diary  records  :  ' '  This 
afternoon,  the  good  Vicar,  during  the  past  three  }'ears  so  fre- 
quently my  welcome  visitor,  was  to  see  me  for  the  last  time. 
To  say  farewell  to  this  good  friend  was  very  hard  !  A  kind 
providence  united  us  here  ;  the  tie  that  cements  our  friend- 
ship is  a  common  faith  and  interest  in  the  work  of  God's 
kingdom.     I  wish  we  could  at  some  future  time  again  labor 


43  MEMOIR   OF   WII.LIAM   JULIUS   MANN. 

side  by  side  !"  A  letter  from  this  friend  full  of  love  and 
appreciation  is  afterwards  noted  with  these  reflections : 
' '  How  he  over-estimates  me  !  It  is  a  riddle  to  me  that  any- 
one can  love  such  a  proud,  impulsive  nature  as  mine  !  But 
it  is  a  marvelous  proof  of  God' s  mercy  that  wherever  I  have 
been,  He  has  raised  up  for  me  friends  who  are  attracted  by 
my  energetic  spontaneity  and  have  heart  enough  to  overcome 
my  coldness." 

The  self-criticism  in  the  light  of  after  years  seems  unjust 
in  view  of  the  loving  sympathy  with  which  he  invariably 
met  others  ;  but  in  it  there  is  evidence  of  the  earnest  scrutiny 
to  which  he  subjected  his  own  impulses,  motives  and  dis- 
position. In  this  spirit  of  self-examination  and  humble  de- 
pendence on  Divine  help,  he  prayed,  "Let  me  not  seek  in 
my  own  light  to  circle  round  Thee  ;  but  let  me  glow  in  Thee, 
thou  eternal  Sun  of  Life  !' '  And  again  he  writes  :  ' '  To-day, 
I  have  been  with  God,  in  Him,  and  here  for  Him.  Never 
is  one  more  fitted  for  the  world  than  just  when  one  is  near 
to  the  Lord." 

Occasionally,  one  or  the  other  of  his  Tuebingen  friends 
came  to  spend  a  day  or  two  with  him,  and  these  visits  re- 
vived all  the  delightful  experiences  of  the  University  years. 
The  diary  records  :  ' '  To-day,  I  have  had  the  pleasure  of  a 
visit  from  my  dear  Julius  K.  The  dear  boy  is  his  old  self ! 
He  has  still  the  same  clear,  true  eyes  through  which  one 
can  look  deep  into  his  good,  loving  German  heart,  and  he 
is  the  same  gay  comrade,  who  laughs  so  readily,  is  so  appre- 
ciative of  every  kindness  and  is  sensitive  only  about  other 
people's  feelings.  He  is  still  a  child,  and  withal  the  dearest 
child  in  the  world  !"  His  affectionate  nature  demanded  the 
comfort  and  inspiration  which  warm  and  intimate  friend- 
ship gives,  and  he  was  always  better  prepared  for  work  after 
the  pleasurable  mental  excitement  congenial  society  affords. 

A  special  delight  to  parents  and  son  were,  of  course,  the 
vacations ;  when  several  weeks  in  the  spring  and  fall  and  a 
few  days  at  Christmas  and  Easter  were  passed  in  the  beloved 


FIRST  WORK  AS  TEACHER  AND   PASTOR.  43 

home.  The  two  elder  brothers  had  been  married  at  this 
time.  Rudolph,  having  entered  the  ministr}-  in  '31,  had  in 
'39  accepted  the  call  to  the  parish  of  Hedelfingen,  not  far 
from  Stuttgart,  where  he  was  pastor  for  nineteen  years — 
when  in  the  fullness  and  vigor  of  his  prime,  he  was  sud- 
denly called  from  the  labors  of  earth  to  the  joys  of  Heaven. 
It  was  at  Hedelfingen  in  his  brother's  church  that  William 
Julius  Mann  preached  his  first  sermon,  in  1840.  When  he 
was  about  to  ascend  the  pulpit  on  that  occasion,  a  friend 
whispered  to  him  not  to  attempt  to  preach  without  his  notes. 
But  he  depended  then,  as  ever  after,  on  thorough  prepara- 
tion and  a  good  memory,  and  never  used  a  manuscript  in 
preaching. 

Fifty  years  afterwards,  when  on  his  last  visit  to  Europe, 
he  again  preached  in  the  church  at  Hedelfingen,  and  among 
his  hearers,  beside  the  children  of  this  beloved  brother,  were 
many  members  of  the  various  branches  of  the  family. 

Victor,  the  second  son,  lived  in  Stuttgart,  and  the  family 
circle  during  these  years  was  unbroken,  which  it  was  not 
destined  long  to  be.  But  the  future  cast  no  shadow,  and  in 
the  strength  and  happiness  of  their  young  manhood,  the  five 
sons  were  about  their  dearly-beloved  parents.  It  was  a  merry 
circle,  and  with  their  ready  wit  and  bright  humor,  Rudolph 
and  Julius,  especially,  kept  it  lively.  Nor  was  serious  con- 
versation on  subjects  of  eternal  value  wanting,  as  the  diar>''s 
remark  on  the  younger  brother  proves  :  "  Adolph  has  gained 
much  for  his  inner  life,  since  I  last  saw  him  ;  he '  is  most 
desirous  of  increasing  his  stores  of  knowledge  and  is  firm, 
happy,  and  positive  in  the  faith." 

According  to  the  diary,  three  times  on  Christmas  day, 
Julius  attended  church,  and  of  the  three  sermons  heard,  he 
wrote  analyses  with  his  reflections  upon  them.  In  those 
years,  in  which  he  had  the  opportunity  of  hearing  many 
great  preachers,  the  lights  of  the  Lutheran  church  in  Wurt- 
emberg  at  the  time,  Dann,  William  Hofacker,  Schwab, 
KapfF  and   others,   he  was   a   most  attentive  listener  and 


44  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

learner.  Interesting  as  a  proof  of  liis  modesty,  ^at  an  age 
when  young  men  are  wont  to  be  very  confident  of  their  own 
opinions,  is  the  record  of  a  conversation  with  his  father  on 
a  sermon  both  heard,  which  closes  :  "I  did  not  think  as 
papa  did,  bnt  I  know  his  judgment  is  founded  upon  a  firm 
and  clear  knowledge  of  the  way  of  salvation."  On  St. 
Stephen's  day,  he  hears  a  sermon  "preached  in  holy  inspira- 
tion, full  of  faith." 

Occasionally,  the  young  theologian  laments  the  great 
number  of  visits  he  had  to  pay  among  the  relatives  and 
friends  in  Stuttgart.  In  Germany,  it  is  customary,  upon 
returning  home  after  an  absence,  caused  by  business  or 
pleasure,  to  visit  the  circle  in  which  the  family  moves. 
That  Julius  was  obliged  to  make  a  great  number  of  these 
duty  calls,  the  diary  leaves  no  doubt,  for  he  pathetically 
writes,  "the  many  visits  I  had  to  pay,  almost  spoiled  my 
holiday  !"  Touchingly  he  regrets  to  leave  home,  where  he 
writes,  ' '  it  suited  me  so  well ' '  and  where  ' '  I  was  so  perfectly 
happy  in  the  constant  association  with  my  dear  ones." 
The  lively  interchange  of  letters  compensated  in  a  degree 
for  the  separation  ;  and  though  absent,  he  lived  in  thought 
with  them.  The  birthday  greetings  to  parents  and  brothers 
were  never  forgotten  as  long  as  he  lived.  Through  life,  even 
after  the  dear  father  was  no  more  on  earth,  the  i8th  of  Janu- 
ary, his  birthday,  was  always  devoted  to  his  memory  ;  and 
on  the  29th  of  May,  his  own  and  his  mother's  birthday,  his 
thoughts  were  always  of  her. 

During  these  first  years  at  Boennigheim,  he  was  occa- 
sionally asked  to  perform  pastoral  duties  for  friends  or  ac- 
quaintances in  the  vicinity.  After  a  Sunday  spent  at  Boden- 
heim,  he  thus  "sums  the  actions  of  the  day,  at  night  before 
he  slept " :  "  I  preached,  had  catechization,  and  christened 
several  children.  It  was  not  irksome  to  me.  The  sermon, 
in  which  I  followed  the  strict  homiletical  outline  was,  I 
think,  better  than  the  catechization. ' ' 

His  literary  talent  showed  itself  also  in  these  years.  While 


FIRST  WORK  AS  TEACHER   AND   PASTOR.  45 

he  labored  indefatigably  as  a  teacher,  his  pen  was  not  idle. 
The  first  narrative  he  wrote  was  entitled,  "Die  Ansiedler  in 
America,"  (Settling  in  America),  published  by  J.  F.  Stein- 
kopf,  Stuttgart,  1845  ;  as  though  his  thoughts  already  turned 
to  the  land  in  which  his  life  work  was  preparing  for  him. 
But  at  the  time  he  wrote  it,  he  entertained  no  thought  of 
leaving  the  Fatherland.  In  after  }'ears,  he  was  amused  when 
any  reference  was  made  to  his  maiden  effort  in  story-writing. 
But  the  narrative,  intended  for  the  more  advanced  }outh,  re- 
veals a  very  clear  knowledge  of  the  primitive  West.  The 
description  of  the  water-courses  and  mountain-chains  of  the 
United  States,  of  the  Mississippi  valley  and  its  rich  returns 
of  the  soil,  of  the  influence  upon  climate  and  commerce  of 
the  Great  Lakes,  the  incidental  reference  to  copper  mines  in 
that  region,  all  show  the  writer  had  exact  knowledge  of  the 
topography  of  this  country,  and  of  its  mineral  and  agricultu- 
ral wealth.  In  the  description  of  the  Indian  and  his  charac- 
ter and  mode  of  life,  the  influence  of  Cooper's  writings  may 
be  traced  ;  and  there  is  apparent,  too,  a  lively  imagination 
which  supplies  crises  in  the  stor>^  that  very  adroitly  bring 
out  the  Red  Man's  characteristics.  But  strongest  of  all  is 
the  Christian  element  in  the  portraiture  of  the  humble  man 
who  comes  to  America  to  seek  the  means  of  subsistence  ; 
but  who  finds  in  his  heart  the  nobler  ambition  to  share 
his  knowledge  of  Christ  and  His  love  with  the  poor 
savage. 

That  even  at  this  early  age  he  wrote  with  remarkable 
rapidity,  a  few  dates  from  his  diary  in  connection  with  liter- 
ary work  will  show.  On  the  31st  of  October,  1844,  he  says  : 
"  I  am  planning  a  story  of  the  days  of  the  Reformation  ; 
but  am  still  uncertain  about  it."  The  next  day,  he  is  able 
to  write  :  "  I  have  the  analysis  of  my  story  written.  I  shall 
call  it  "  Xaverus  Hammerschlag."  On  the  succeeding  day, 
he  records  that  he  has  been  "busy  writing  at  Xaverus." 
"The  psychological  treatment  of  the  characters,"  he  says, 
"interests  me  most,  and  to  this  I  devote  the  greatest  care." 


46  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

He  finished  the  work  in  his  free  hours  during  that  winter  ; 
but  he  was  not  satisfied  with  it,  and  did  not  consider  it 
worthy  of  print. 

In  the  following  year  he  wrote  another  story  for  young 
people,  called  "The  Erring  Son,"  The  preface  to  it  is  so 
characteristically  straightforward,  simple  and  suggestive 
that  I  translate  it  : 

"  Dear  Readers  : — For  those  among  you  who  are  not  yet  fifteen  years 
old,  and  for  raany  of  you  who  are,  it  would  do  as  well  not  to  write  this 
preface.  For  I  know  well  enough  what  you  do  :  you  never  read  prefaces 
or  introductions  at  all ;  you  know  beforehand  they  are  dreadfully  tire- 
some and  contain  nothing  very  sensible.  You  hasten  to  read  the  story, 
and  if  things  are  only  exciting  enough  there  and  a  catastrophe  finishes 
the  tale  ;  or  if  some  one  in  it  to  whom  you  take  a  fancy  has  a  great  many 
nice  things  happen  to  him,  then  you  look  how  big  the  book  is,  to  find 
out  how  long  your  pleasure  is  going  to  last. 

"  Accordingly,  the  preface  might  as  well  have  been  omitted  here  ;  for 
the  author  and  the  compositor  and  the  printer  would  have  been  glad  to 
spare  themselves  the  trouble.  Nevertheless,  since  beside  the  nine  un- 
grateful, there  was  one  found  grateful,  there  may  among  ten  readers  of 
this  little  book  be  one  found  who  will  read  these  lines. 

"  For  the  ten  in  a  hundred,  therefore,  it  may  be  remarked  : 

"I.  That  there  is  at  the  heading  of  each  chapter  an  especial  preface,* 
which,  though  very  short,  contains  a  great  deal  more  than  the  chapter 
itself. 

"  II.  That  the  whole  book  is  designed  to  be  the  preface  of  a  very  good 
sequence  :  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  this  good  sequence  will  last  all  through 
your  lives,  and  ever  so  much  longer  than  that. 

"  III.  That  every  one  of  you  having  read  the  story,  is  at  liberty  to  ask 
himself  and  others  as  many  questions  about  it  as  may  occur  to  him. 

"  Very  willing  to  answer  all  your  inquiries  you  will  find 

Your  friend,  The  Author." 

Whether  this  volume,  of  which  the  complete  MS.  lies  be- 
fore me,  was  published,  I  do  not  know.  It  is  dated  1845, 
the  year  in  which  the  weightiest  question  of  Dr,  Mann's 
life  was  decided  upon,  and  it  is  possible  that  his  coming  to 
America  prevented  its  publication.  The  fact  that  the  story 
was  written  testifies  to  his  industry  and  ready  power  of 
invention. 

*  A  Bible  passage  is  indicated  at  the  heading  of  each  chapter. 


FIRST  WORK   AS   TEACHER   AND   PASTOR.  47 

After  the  departure  of  the  Vicariiis  K. ,  the  head  pastor 
of  Boennigheim  offered  the  position  of  assistant  pastor  to 
Mr.  ]\Iann,  who  after  prayerful  deliberation  formally  accepted 
the  call  on  the  8th  of  Februar}^,  1844,  promising  at  the  same 
time  to  remain  in  Boennigheim  until  the  following  Octo- 
ber. His  father  was  especially  happy  that  the  son  entered 
upon  the  practical  work  of  the  ministry  and  sent  him  with 
his  sincere  good  wishes  a  handsome  copy  of  the  Wurtemberg 
Agenda. 

In  those  days,  graduates  of  theology  were  not  ordained 
in  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Wurtemberg,  until,  having 
served  some  years  as  vicarii  (assistant  pastors),  they  were 
finally  called  to  a  regular  pastorate.  Ordination,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  strict  Lutheran  conception,  was  connected 
with  the  installation  in  their  first  charge.  Only  since 
1855,  are  assistant  pastors  ordained.  Before  that  time,  the 
candidate  of  theology,  upon  becoming  "  vicarius,"  took  a 
solemn  pledge,  equivalent  to  an  oath,  before  the  Superin- 
tendent of  the  diocese  (Diaconus)  or  another  pastor  appointed 
by  him.  Accordingly,  Wm.  Julius  Mann,  on  the  20th  of 
February,  1844,  solemnly  pledged  himself,  before  Diaconus 
Zeller,  in  Besigheim,  "to  follow  the  Holy  Scriptures  as  the 
rule  of  faith  in  preaching  and  teaching,  and  never  to  deviate 
from  the  form  of  sound  evangelical  doctrine,  as  contained  in 
the  Augsburg  Confession."  "I  gave  him  my  hand,"  he 
wrote,  "with  whole-souled  conviction.  May  I  ever  be  faith- 
ful to  my  promise  ! ' ' 

The  theological  essay  which  in  accordance  with  the  cus- 
tom of  the  Church  he  presented  to  the  Superintendent,  was 
on  the  "  Christology  of  St.  Paul  compared  with  that  of  the 
Epistles  of  St.  John. ' '  He  entered  upon  this  department 
of  literary  work  with  renewed  zest  and  love,  for  he  records  : 
' '  I  began  to-day  my  thesis  for  the  Synod  and  have  thus  far 
written  five  folio  pages.  Theology  in  this  form  I  again 
relished  more  than  I  would  have  thought. ' ' 

To  his  duties  as  instructor  in  the  Institute,  pastoral  work 


48  MEMOIR   OF   WILI^IAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

was  now  added.  He  preached  regularly,  generally  at  the 
afternoon  service,  gave  catechetical  instruction  and  visited 
the  sick.  His  diary  reveals  prayerful  criticism  and  review 
of  his  own  efforts  and  the  earnest  striving  toward  a  high 
ideal,  as  well  as  a  spirit  of  deep  humility  combined  with  his 
old  energy  and  love  of  the  work  of  his  choice.  And  one 
can  understand  how  in  the  fuller  growth  of  after  years,  he 
attained  in  a  great  measure  what  he  then  so  earnestly  sought. 
"  By  prayer  and  Bible-study,"  he  writes,  "  one  must  learn 
to  preach."  He  says  of  true  or  desirable  popularity  in 
preaching  that  "it  is  inexpressibly  hard  to  attain,"  and 
again,  "on  the  pulpit  it  is  of  the  greatest  importance  to 
present  the  deepest  spiritual  and  intellectual  truths  in  the 
plainest  and  simplest  words  of  everyday  life. ''  He  criticises 
himself  and  marks  the  criticisms  of  others  :  "  I  fear  I  touched 
upon  too  many  topics.  D.  said  I  preached  too  quickly. 
W.  requests  me  not  to  preach  longer  than  heretofore. "  "In 
this  respect, ' '  he  humorously  adds,  ' '  I  hope  at  least  to  give 
satisfaction. "  "I  preached,  but  I  fear  rather  over  the  heads 
of  the  audience.  One  is  so  prone  to  forsake  noble  simplicity 
and  to  wander  in  the  clouds. ' '  In  his  efforts  to  attain  sim- 
plicity of  style,  he  occasionally  gave  a  lesson  in  Bible  history 
in  the  village  school.  "  It  is  difficult,"  he  wrote,  "to  make 
things  plain  enough  for  these  illiterate  village  children  ;  and 
therefore  I  find  it  good  practice  to  talk  to  them." 

"  The  beautiful  liturgy, "  he  writes,  "I  sought  to  read 
with  all  possible  clearness  and  emphasis."  He  had  a  strong, 
clear,  deep,  metallic  voice  ;  and  these  early  efforts  bore 
fruit  in  his  exquisite  reading  of  Scripture  and  liturgy,  which 
those  who  heard  will  not  easily  forget. 

He  did  not  find  it  hard  work  to  prepare  his  sermons,  but 
he  says,  "  I  must  guard  against  composing  too  quickly.  To 
memorize  my  discourses  costs  me  little  effort.  I  am  some- 
times surprised  while  delivering  them,  that  I  so  closely  fol- 
low the  line  of  thought  laid  out."  He  felt  the  deep  re- 
sponsibility of  his  office,  and  was  sometimes  almost  over- 


FIRST  WORK   AS  TEACHER   AND   PASTOR.  49 

wliehned  with  the  sense  of  it.  On  one  occasion  he  was 
grateful  to  have  a  friend  present  to  encourage  him  before 
preaching,  and  afterwards  he  was  enabled  to  write  :  "All 
went  well.  I  thank  God  that  he  strengthened  me  to  speak 
calmly  and  firmly  with  confidence."  The  people  liked  to 
hear  him,  and  one  Sunday  after  the  sermon,  one  of  his 
audience  said  to  him  :  "  Herr  Vicar,  sie  haben  mir  in's  Herz 
geschaut  ! "  (You  looked  into  my  heart !) 

His  first  pastoral  visit  was  to  a  "good  old  lady  of  seventy- 
eight,"  who  lay  dying,  and  he  found  "  the  aspect  in  nowise 
terrifying."  He  ministered  the  Holy  Sacrament  the  first 
time  to  a  dying  man,  who  was  "very  ready  to  go  home," 
and  he  writes,  ' '  What  a  peculiar  impression  one  receives 
at  the  bedside  of  the  dying  !  One  tries  to  imagine  the 
state  of  a  soul  about  to  pass  from  this  world,  and  refreshes 
one's  self  with  it  in  the  comfort  of  the  Gospel  !  "  Of  his 
first  funeral  sermon,  he  says,  "I  spoke  extemporaneously, 
following  a  careful  analysis  ;  but  I  was  not  satisfied  with 
it."  His  interest  in  the  catechetical  class  was  very  great, 
as  we  can  not  doubt  when  we  find  a  list  of  the  names  of  that 
class  of  1844  preserved  among  his  papers.  He  spared  no 
pains  to  stimulate  the  young  people  to  higher  thoughts  and 
spiritual  life.  Several  times  he  laments  that  "their  heads 
are  easier  of  approach  than  their  hearts." 

His  relation  to  the  Rev.  Kleinmann,  the  pastor  of  Boen- 
nigheim,  was  most  cordial.  The  testimonial  presented  to 
him  when  the  pastor  regretfully  bids  him  farewell  contains 
the  statement :  "During  the  past  seven  months,  the  Rev. 
Julius  Mann  supported  and  aided  me  in  the  parish  work  to 
my  entire  satisfaction.  By  his  marked  talent  as  a  preacher 
and  his  energetic  devotion  to  all  pastoral  work,  he  has  won, 
in  a  high  degree,  the  love  and  confidence  of  the  congrega- 
tion." 

In  the  spring  of  '44,  a  position  as  director  of  an  educa- 
tional institute  had  been  offered  to  Mr.  Mann.  He  had 
weighed  the  matter  earnestly,  but  as  he  was  young  to  accept 
4 


50  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

SO  responsible  a  post,  and  his  parents  on  this  account  hesi- 
tated to  encourage  him,  he  declined  the  offer.  Writing  of 
this  call,  which  his  friends,  Diaconus  Burk  and  Diaconus 
Zeller  had  strongly  urged  him  to  accept,  he  said,  "My 
promise  to  remain  here  as  assistant  pastor  until  October,  '44, 
seems  to  me  a  bolt  which  the  Lord  has  himself  drawn  to 
bar  my  way  to  Templehof. ' ' 

The  early  autumn  days  of  that  year  were  the  last  devoted 
to  the  institute  at  Boennigheim.  The  chosen  work  was 
that  of  the  ministry,  however  well  adapted  he  was  by  his 
energetic  and  sympathetic  character  to  be  a  teacher.  The 
sincere  regrets  and  affectionate  regards  of  inspector,  col- 
leagues and  pupils  followed  him.  So  ardent  had  been  his 
devotion  to  the  work  and  so  deep  the  impression  upon 
others  of  his  capacity  for  it,  that  when  it  was  announced  he 
was  about  to  leave,  the  direction  of  several  similar  classical 
colleges  was  open  to  him.  But  he  felt  called  to  labor  in  the 
ministry,  and  realizing  that  these  three  years  at  Boennig- 
heim were  not  unfruitful  in  the  experience,  knowledge  of 
character  and  greater  capacity  for  work  they  had  brought, 
he  was  the  more  eager  to  lay  his  hand  to  the  plough. 

In  December  of  the  same  year,  at  the  request  of  Prelate 
von  Klaiber,  he  became  vicarius  to  the  Rev.  Jno.  F.  Eytel, 
the  father  of  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Hermann  Eytel.  Father 
and  son  were  in  charge  of  the  congregation  at  Neuhausen, 
near  the  old  romantic  town  of  Urach,  and  its  out-parish, 
Glems.  Here  the  friends  were  associated  in  pastoral  work 
until  July,  1845,  when  pastors  and  congregation  with  the 
"deepest  regret  that  they  were  so  soon  deprived  of  the  com- 
fort of  his  spiritual  ministrations"  were  obliged  to  part  with 
Mr.  Mann,  who  had  in  the  interval  received  the  call  to  come 
to  America,  and  he  felt  constrained  to  follow  it. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  JOURNEY  TO  AMERICA.     1845. 

T^HE  question  of  leaving  his  native  land,  and  taking  up 
his  work  in  the  broad  and  unoccupied  field  of  America, 
had  approached  Win.  Julius  ]\Iann  ver}^  closely  during  1844. 
His  dear  friend,  Dr.  Philip  Schaff,  had  in  March  of  that 
year  followed  a  call  to  that  far-oflf  country,  having  been  ap- 
pointed Professor  of  Church  History  in  Mercersburg  College, 
Pa.  Many  letters  passed  between  the  friends  ;  and  when 
Dr.  Schaflf  paid  his  farewell  visit  in  Stuttgart,  the  question 
of  his  friend's  following  him  to  America  was  broached.  In 
May,  Mr.  Mann's  diary  says,  "To-day  I  received  a  letter 
from  my  dear  Schaff.  He  wants  me  to  follow  him,  and  says 
that  he  will  soon  send  me  a  call  from  a  Reformed  Conofre- 
gation  in  Pennsylvania.     If  one  came,  would  I  accept  it?" 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year,  his  friend  wrote,  asking 
whether  he  would  accept  a  professorship  of  German  Litera- 
ture and  History  at  the  College  in  Mercersburg,  if  the  chair 
were  created.  In  a  letter  of  the  31st  of  January,  1845,  ^^^ 
declares  his  readiness,  after  many  earnest  conferences  with 
his  parents,  and  having  their  full  consent,  to  accept  the  call 
to  the  New  World. 

In  May,  1845,  ^^-  Schaflf  wrote  to  him  : 

"  With  my  present  knowledge  of  America,  I  would  not  hesitate,  were  I 
you,  to  come  to  this  country.  In  Wurtemberg,  candidates  long  for  posi- 
tions ;  here,  the  congregations  pine  for  ministers.  There,  one  is  hedged 
in  on  every  side  ;  here,  there  is  absolute  freedom  ;  poison,  indeed,  to 
those  ruled  by  the  flesh,  but  a  heavenly  gift  to  those  who  know  how  to 
use  it  for  the  glory  of  God  and  the  building  up  of  his  kingdom.  There, 
it  looks  like  autumn,  here  all  is  fresh  and  green.  It  is  true,  great  confu- 
sion prevails  in  many  departments  of  the  church,  but  there  is  vast  mate- 

51 


52  MEMOIR   OE  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

rial  for  a  grand  new  epoch  iu  church  history.  Among  the  Germans, 
particularly  in  the  West,  guidance  and  help  are  almost  imperative.  He 
who  has  the  true  missionary  spirit,  is  ready  to  suffer  privation,  and  to 
sacrifice  comfort  and  ease,  who  is  willing  to  gather  the  scattered  Germans 
into  congregations,  has  here  an  immeasurable  field  of  labor,  and  may 
become  a  blessing  to  thousands.  It  is  a  crying  shame,  that  in  Germany 
so  many  theological  candidates  stand  idle  in  the  market-place,  while  here 
multitudes  of  their  countrymen  wander  helplessly  about,  as  sheep  with- 
out a  shepherd,  or  fall  a  prey  to  ravening  wolves.  '  Come  over  and  help 
us  !'  You  might  come  first  to  me  to  Mercersburg,  and  an  avenue  for  ac- 
tive work  will  soon  open  to  you.  It  is  not  herewith  said  that  you  must 
remain  in  America  ;  the  return  to  Wurtemberg  is  not  barred  to  you,  and 
you  would,  in  that  case,  carry  the  agreeable  remembrance  of  having  seen 
the  New  World,  with  her  marvelous  new  life  springing  up  as  by  magic 
on  all  sides." 

Then  follow  suggestions  and  directions  about  travelling, 
and  addresses  to  friends  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia, 
and  finally  : 

"  But  the  step  is  a  most  earnest  and  important  one,  and  requires  care- 
ful consideration  and  prayer.  I  am  confident  that  if  3'ou  come,  it  will  be 
in  the  true  missionary  spirit,  and  the  upbuildmg  of  God's  kingdom,  and 
the  Christian  education  of  the  young  will  be  the  glorious  aim  toward 
which  you  will  strive.  God  give  unto  your  heart  His  counsel,  and  direct 
all  things  for  the  true  welfare  of  yourself  and  your  dear  ones,  and  to  the 
honor  of  His  holy  name  !  " 

If  Mr.  Mann  had  not  already  decided  to  come  to  America, 
this  earnest  call  from  the  friend  in  whose  judgment  he  had 
great  confidence,  and  who  knew  and  could  estimate  his 
character  and  fitness  for  the  new  work,  would  most  probably 
have  decided  the  question.  To  his  loving  parents  and  de- 
voted brothers,  as  well  as  to  him,  the  parting  from  home 
could  not  but  bring  deep  sorrow.  But  where  God  seemed 
to  point  the  way  they  could  not  murmur.  They  were  will- 
ing to  consecrate  their  best  to  His  service,  and  it  was  not 
theirs  to  limit  the  gift.  With  a  heavy  heart,  but  with  com- 
posure and  cheerful  words  of  encouragement  and  hope,  the 
brave  mother  directed  the  preparations  for  the  journey.  She 
forgot  no  detail  that  might  make  travelling  more  comfort- 
able, and,  there  is  no  doubt,  that  with  accustomed  neatness 


THE  JOURNEY  TO   AMERICA.  53 

and  precision,  she  dictated  to  Julius  the  list  of  garments, 
books,  etc.,  which  were  taken  on  his  journey,  and  which 
are  noted  in  the  first  pages  of  his  pocket  diary.  Though 
with  the  prescience  of  niaturer  years,  the  good  father  sadly 
felt  that  for  him  the  separation  from  his  son  would  be  for 
always  in  this  world,  he  cheerfully  planned  the  journey, 
made  all  necessary  monetary  arrangements,  and  gave  good 
counsel  to  the  last.  The  brothers  promised  to  keep  Julius 
well  informed  about  the  condition  of  affairs  in  Wurtem- 
berg. 

The  many  friends  of  the  family  took  a  sincere  and  loving 
interest  in  this  departure  of  the  son  to  America,  and  the  las't 
weeks  were  occupied  with  farewell  visits.  Mutual  friends 
sent  many  kind  messages  to  Dr.  SchafF.  The  diary  records  : 
"  Diaconus  Hofacker  and  Rev.  Sander,  Prof  Gustav  Schwab, 
Prof  Pfleiderer,  Rev.  Knapp,  Prof  Inspector  Hoffman,  have 
all  bade  me  farewell  and  gave  me  kind  greetings  to  friend 
Schaff.  Prof  Hoffman  sends  his  regards  also  to  Dr.  Nevin 
of  Mercersburg,  who  has  occasionally  sent  him  books  and 
papers  from  America  ;  also  to  Dr.  Schneck,  of  Chambers- 
burg,  Pa." 

On  the  1 6th  of  August,  the  last  tender  farewells  were 
spoken,  and  with  the  blessings  of  father  and  mother  and 
the  good  wishes  of  brothers  and  friends,  accompanied  by 
Adolph,  who  started  on  the  journey  with  him,  VVm.  Julius 
Mann  left  the  home  of  his  childhood  and  youth.  He  was 
so  fortunate  as  to  have  found  in  the  Rev.  Jno.  Geo.  Zahner, 
of  the  Missionary  Institute  at  Basle,  Switzerland,  a  com- 
panion on  his  journey,  whose  destination  was  also  Mercers- 
burg College,  Pa. 

From  Stuttgart  to  Strassburg,  the  brothers  had  the  com- 
fort of  each  other's  society.  Their  parting  was  saddened 
by  the  probability  of  a  long  separation.  Nor  did  they  meet 
again  for  four  and  forty  years.  Adolph  was  on  his  way  to 
Basle,  to  prepare  himself  for  the  mission  work  in  Africa,  to 
which  he  had  decided  to  devote  his  life.    For  thirty-five  years 


54  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

he  labored  most  successfully  in  his  chosen  field.  During  the 
long  years  of  separation,  the  brothers  corresponded  faithfully 
and  regularly,  maintaining  a  deep  sympathy  in  each  other's 
work,  and  reading  between  the  lines  the  changes  the  years 
were  making.  When  a  kindly  Providence  once  more  united 
them,  it  was  touching  to  witness  their  close  tie  of  brother- 
hood and  their  tender  affection.  Their  hearts  were  united, 
though  for  so  many  years  an  ocean  had  rolled  between. 

The  journey  to  Havre  was  made  by  way  of  Nancy,  Toul, 
Vitry,  Paris  and  Rouen.  In  those  days  of  slow  travel,  it 
took  forty-three  hours  to  reach  Paris  from  Strassburg. 
Eight  days  passed  quickly  in  the  great  city  on  the  Seine  in 
the  study  of  its  art  treasures,  its  architectural  achievements, 
and  its  historical  monuments.  Full  of  enthusiasm  for  the 
great  productions  of  art,  thoroughly  at  home  in  its  history, 
with  a  taste  cultivated  by  study,  and  a  keen  appreciation  of 
the  beautiful,  Mr.  Mann  took  with  him  lasting  impressions 
of  the  delights  of  those  days.  He  spoke  French  fluently, 
and  found  ample  opportunity  to  make  use  of  it  in  travelling. 

In  Rouen,  the  friends  stayed  long  enough  to  see  the  cathe- 
dral, and  then  pushed  on  to  Havre,  where  they  arrived  on 
the  26th  of  August.  They  were  to  sail  in  an  American 
clipper,  which  had  shortly  arrived  on  her  maiden  voyage. 
To  go  by  steam  was  thought,  at  that  time,  a  hazardous  and 
somewhat  foolhardy  undertaking.  The  "Havre"  lay  in  the 
dry-dock  when  they  first  saw  her,  receiving  a  coating  of 
copper,  and  was  not  to  sail  for  a  week. 

On  the  Sunday  spent  in  Havre,  the  friends  heard  two 
French  sermons  and  a  German  one.  The  last  days  were 
passed  in  writing  to  Stuttgart  and  Basle.  On  Tuesday, 
September  9,  1845,  ^^^Y  sailed  from  the  shores  of  the  Old 
World.  Mr.  Mann  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  long  voyage  of 
thirty  days,  for  he  was  an  excellent  sailor,  and  the  ocean 
with  its  mystery  of  hidden  wonders  was  full  of  interest  to 
him.  Long  before  he  had  seen  its  vast  expanse  or  heard 
the  thunder  of  its  rolling  waves,  he  had  apostrophized  it, 


THE  JOURNEY  TO  AMERICA.  55 

and  written  of  the  ships  upon  its  waters.  He  enjoyed  the 
trip  so  much,  that  he  would  have  liked  to  proceed  on  a 
vo}'age  around  the  world.  On  the  8th  of  October,  the  sight 
of  land  greeted  the  travelers,  and  on  the  9th,  they  were 
landed  by  steamboat  in  New  York.  Here  Mr.  Mann  was 
greeted  by  his  life-long  friend,  Mr.  Gustav  Schwab,  the  son 
of  Prof.  Schwab,  the  poet. 

After  tarrying  a  week  in  New  York  to  see  the  great  city, 
the  traveling  companions  proceeded  to  York,  Pa.,  by  way 
of  Philadelphia,  where  they  spent  only  a  day.  The  diary 
records  the  impression  it  made  :  "A  fine  city.  We  saw  the 
water- works  at  Fairmount. "  The  Reformed  Synod  of 
Pennsylvania  was  in  session  at  York,  and  there  Dr.  Schaflf 
warmly  received  his  friend,  and  presented  him  to  Drs. 
Nevin,  Schneck  and  other  prominent  men  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  On  the  24th  of  October,  he  arrived 
with  Dr.  SchafF  at  Mercersburg,  the  destination  of  his 
journey. 

In  the  joy  of  their  renewed  companionship,  the  friends, 
who  from  their  boyhood's  days  in  the  Stuttgart  Gymnasium 
had  been  closely  bound  to  one  another,  reviewed  the  past 
and  surveyed  the  future.  From  across  the  water,  the  one 
brought  tidings  of  home,  mutual  friends,  the  latest  evi- 
dences of  development  in  church,  State  and  society ;  and 
from  his  gathered  experience  in  the  New  World,  the  other 
told  of  projects,  possibilities  and  hopes.  It  was  a  union  of 
heart  and  purpose  that  bound  the  men,  nor  in  the  long  after 
years,  when  by  God's  mercy  their  lives  passed  beyond  three 
score  and  ten,  were  they  divided.  For  fifty-seven  years,  this 
friendship,  invigorating  in  its  strength,  enduring  in  its 
love,  crowned  and  beautified  their  lives.  To  the  corre- 
spondence carried  on  during  nearly  all  these  years,  we  owe 
some  very  interesting  glimpses  into  the  past. 

The  expectation  of  creating  a  chair  of  German  Literature 
in  Mercersburg,  as  the  trustees  of  the  College  had  hoped, 
was  not  realized.     But,  during  the  two  months  of  his  stay 


56  MEMOIR  OF  WILUAM  JUUUS  MANN. 

there,  Mr.  Mann  lectured  to  the  students  on  German  liter- 
ature and  universal  history.  The  diary  records  the  first 
sermon  preached  in  America,  and  various  articles,  among 
them  one  on  the  meeting  of  the  Synod  at  York,  and  another 
on  Mercersburg,  written  for  the  Christliche  Zeitschi'ift^  an 
organ  of  the  church  edited  by  the  Rev.  Dr.  Schneck,  of 
Chambersburg.  The  acquaintance  with  the  professors  of 
the  seminary,  among  whom,  especially,  Mr.  Mann  valued 
the  learned  divine,  Dr.  John  W.  Nevin,  gave  opportunity 
for  deeper  and  clearer  insight  into  the  affairs  of  the  church 
in  America,  and  the  condition  and  needs  of  the  people. 
But  the  work  of  the  professor  was  soon  to  give  way  to  that 
of  the  pastor,  and  with  the  close  of  1845,  the  stay  at  Mer- 
cersburg also  came  to  an  end. 


CHAPTER   VII. 

IN  THE  REFORMED  CHURCH. 
Pastoral  and  Literary  Work.    Extracts  from  Letters. 

IN  December,  '45,  Mr.  IMann  received  and  accepted  a  call 
to  assist  the  Rev.  Dr.  H.  Bibigliaus,  pastor  of  the  Ger- 
man Reformed  Salem  Congregation,  in  Philadelphia.  He 
entered  upon  his  duties  in  January,  1846,  and  then  was 
begun  that  long  career  of  faithful  pastoral  activity  which 
was  so  largely  his  life-work,  and  which,  under  God's  provi- 
dence, was  blessed  to  so  many  souls.  The  first  sermon  in 
Salem  Church  was  preached  on  Sunday,  January  i8th,  his 
"  father's  birthday,"  as  the  diary  remarks.  On  the  17th  of 
]\Iay  of  the  same  year,  he  was  ordained  by  the  Rev.  H. 
Bibighaus  and  the  Rev.  C.  R.  Kessler. 

The  years  at  the  German  Reformed  congregation,  in  which 
he  labored  faithfully  as  Dr.  Bibighaus'  assistant,  were,  like 
all  his  years,  full  of  work.  The  elder  clerg>'man,  whom 
he  loved  and  honored,  and  with  whom  his  relations  were 
always  most  cordial,  was  advancing  in  years,  and  Mr.  Mann 
sought  to  relieve  him  as  much  as  possible  from  arduous 
pastoral  labors.  Preaching  two  or  three  times  a  week,  visit- 
ing the  sick,  and  attending  to  the  interests  of  the  church, 
so  occupied  him,  that  frequently  he  lamented,  that  he  had 
not  enough  time  for  study. 

His  sennons,  to  which  he  gave  "care  and  prayer,"  were 
full  of  spiritual  thought  and  inspiration,  and  he  preached 
during  those  early  years  with  great  ardor,  and  so  rapidly 
that  it  was  sometimes  difficult  to  follow  him.  Salem 
Church  was  not  large,   but  it  was  soon  far  too  small  to 

57 


58  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

accommodate  the  people  who  came  to  hear  the  young 
preacher.  Even  the  benches  that  were  placed  lengthwise 
of  the  aisles  were  soon  overcrowded. 

He  entered  with  so  much  zeal  into  all  his  duties,  that  he 
was  in  danger  of  exhausting  his  strength.  "I  am  worn 
out,"  he  wrote  after  Easter,  "and  feel  too  weak  for  work 
to-day.  I  preached  six  times  during  Holy  Week,  and  we 
had  four  hundred  communicants  on  Sunday. ' '  At  another 
time  he  remarked,  "One  morning  this  week  I  had  seven 
callers ;  listening  to  the  several  needs  of  so  many  people, 
and  offering  them  comfort  and  advice  consumes  time  and 
strength."  Thinking  of  his  busy  life  and  the  prospect  of 
busy  days,  he  wrote  to  Dr.  Schafif:  "Scripture  saith,  it  is 
good  for  man  to  bear  the  yoke  in  his  youth,  but  I  am 
inclined  to  think  that  refers  to  the  old  reckoning  of  the 
days  of  Abraham  and  Methuselah,  when  people  of  seventy 
and  eighty  were  still  young,  because  I  believe  the  yoke- 
bearing  will  hardly  cease  before  we  reach  those  years." 

Notwithstanding  the  many  duties  of  his  office,  he  was 
always  engaged  in  literary  work.  At  this  time,  he  was 
writing  a  universal  history.  The  students  at  Mercersburg, 
who  had  heard  his  lectures  on  history,  requested  that  he 
would  permit  their  translation  for  publication  in  English. 

This  revived  his  interest  in  a  work  for  which  he  had 
gathered  a  large  amount  of  material  before  coming  to 
America,  and  he  continued  it  to  the  time  of  the  French 
Revolution.  Several  fragments  of  it  appeared  in  the  Mer- 
cersburg Revieiv^  but  the  translation  was  not  satisfactory, 
and  he  discontinued  it  at  the  time  for  that  reason.  For 
many  years  afterwards,  other  work  bearing  directly  upon 
his  pastoral  and  theological  labors,  prevented  him  from 
finishing  the  history.  And,  in  the  last  years  of  his  life, 
when  greater  leisure  would  have  enabled  him  to  again  take 
up  the  work  begun  so  long  before,  a  corner  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, fruitful  in  events  to  the  Lutheran  Church  and  rich 
in  interest  to  the  American  Lutheran,  absorbed  his  atten- 


IN   THE   REFORMED   CHURCH,  59 

tion,  and  to  solve  the  obscure  references  in  the  "  Halle  Re- 
ports" occupied  his  time  and  his  love  for  historic  research. 

Every  department  of  the  world's  history,  names,  dates, 
events,  were  always  at  the  command  of  his  memory,  and  he 
rarely  required  a  reference  to  books  on  such  subjects.  It 
was  a  source  of  surprise,  in  after  years,  to  his  children,  to 
have  their  father  able  to  supply  them  with  accurate  and 
detailed  information  on  any  historical  question  that  was 
touched  upon,  without  a  book  at  hand.  One  of  his  little 
girls,  on  one  occasion,  happy  to  have  found  a  strange  name, 
"Zerdusht,"  "which  papa  would  certainly  not  know  all 
about  without  a  book,"  was  quite  disappointed  to  find  her- 
self very  much  mistaken. 

On  the  26th  of  November,  1847,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Mann, 
Dr.  Schaff  wrote  : 

"You  will  see  in  the  Zeitschrift  of  to-day,  that  I  intend  to  edit  a  paper, 
which  shall  be  an  organ  of  the  American  German  Church.  I  doubt 
whether  there  will  be  enough  subscribers  to  pay  the  costs,  nor  am  I  par- 
ticularly Inclined,  with  all  the  work  I  have  on  hand,  to  undertake  so 
laborious,  delicate  and,  at  least  from  a  worldly  standpoint,  so  unthankful 
a  task.  But  I  look  upon  it  as  a  kind  of  duty,  in  view  of  the  many  appeals 
that  have  come  to  me  from  both  Lutheran  and  Reformed  theologians,  to 
make  the  trial,  and  to  see  whether,  in  this  way,  something  beneficial  may 
not  be  accomplished  for  the  German  Church  interests  throughout  the 
land. 

"  If  I  really  undertake  the  thing,  your  energetic  co-operation  is,  per- 
haps, a  somewhat  presuming,  but  certainly  a  foregone  conclusion.  If  the 
object  were  purely  personal,  I  would  not,  of  course,  claim  your  time  and 
work  ;  but  in  this,  you  are  as  much  interested  as  I  am.  A  critical  and 
popular  review  of  Hundeshagen's  German  Theology,  a  parallel  between 
the  position  of  the  German  and  the  American  pastor,  the  characteristics 
of  Puritanism,  Sectarianism,  the  Catholic  Church  in  America,  are,  for 
example,  subjects  which  I  would  most  gladly  have  you  handle.  Your  his- 
toric studies,  too,  will  present  many  interesting  topics,  and,  with  your 
fondness  for  art,  you  will  not  find  it  difficult  to  give  us  something  on  Art 
and  Religion,  Art  and  Religious  Ceremonies  and  so  on." 

Dr.  SchafF  found  a  ready  sympathizer  and  an  earnest  co- 
operator  in  this  project  in  his  correspondent.  Mr.  Mann 
was  a  regular  contributor  to  the  pages  of  the  Kirchenfreund^ 


6o  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

his  interest  in  the  project,  and  his  intimacy  with  the  editor, 
alike  awakening  his  enthusiasm,  and  inciting  his  labors. 
In  1854,  he  became  the  editor  of  this  theological  monthly, 
and  continued  it  until  i860. 

November  30,  1847,  he  wrote  in  reply  to  Dr.  Schaflf : 

"  Hail  to  the  new  project  of  your  creative  geuius,  the  Kirchenfreund ! 
for  which  I  wish  as  many  friends  in  the  church  as  it  will  have  friendship 
for  the  Church.  I  was,  of  course,  surprised  when  I  saw  the  constellation 
risen  so  suddenly  on  the  calm  heaven  of  the  Zeitschrift.  Naturally,  seve- 
ral considerations  present  themselves  to  me :  what  will  the  Zeitschrift 
itself  say  to  it  ?  How  will  the  church  respond  to  it  ?  Will  other  denomi- 
nations show  real  interest  and  do  serious  work  for  the  cause  ?  All  this 
you  have,  of  course,  considered,  and  you  know  the  ground  better  than  I 
do.  I  have  long  wished  that  a  political  paper,  founded  on  true  Christian 
principles,  were  published  for  the  Germans  here,  that  would  give  a  view 
of  the  world's  condition  from  the  light  of  the  Christian  standpoint  in 
opposition  to  rationalism.  At  the  same  time,  I  have  certainly  desired  that 
for  German  theologians  in  America,  and  for  the  more  educated  religious 
German  element,  a  journal  devoted  to  church  and  theological  interests  in 
a  broader  sense  would  appear  ;  and,  finally,  I  have  long  expected  an  Eng- 
lish theological  paper,  as  the  standard  of  Mercersburg  theology.  Now 
your  plan  springs  suddenly,  like  Minerva  from  the  head  of  Jupiter,  fully 
armed  into  being,  and  I  greet  it  with  enthusiasm  !  For  the  confidence 
which  your  wish  to  have  me  work  with  you  shows,  I  thank  you.  What- 
ever is  in  my  power  I  will  do  for  you,  and  herewith  become  one  of  your 
subscribers.  I  have  long  wanted  to  see  the  liturgical  question  publicly 
discussed  ;  for  these  things,  the  doors  oi  your  Kirchenfreund -viiW  be  open, 
and  when  I  want  to  write  and  can,  I  shall  do  it  with  redoubled  energy  for 
my  friend.  Let  me  know  as  soon  as  possible  how  your  project  has  been 
received. ' ' 

Perhaps  a  short  extract  from  the  first  editorial  will  best 
explain  the  aim  and  character  of  the  paper  : 

"Despite  all  division,  German  Protestants  in  America,  especially  the 
clergy,  still  have  many  common  interests.  They  speak  the  same  language, 
have  the  same  origin,  and  they  have  what  unites  them  still  more  closely, 
the  same  mode  of  thinking,  and  that  '  Gemuethlichkeit, '  for  which  feel- 
ing the  English  language  offers  no  term.  They  have  an  interest  in  the 
condition  and  advancement  of  church  and  theology  in  their  old  home, 
and  desire  that  the  faith  of  their  fathers  be  preserved  and  spread  in  its 
purity  in  the  land  of  their  adoption.  Among  them,  also,  many  have  solid 
theological  learning,  and  could  exert  an  influence  for  good  in  a  wide 


IN  THE  REFORMED  CHURCH.  6l 

sphere,  if  the  proper  medium  served  to  express  their  views.  Surely,  if 
we  succeed  in  concentrating  the  existing  forces,  a  literary  organ  worthy 
of  the  German  mind  may  be  called  into  being,  nor  will  it  fail  to  attract 
the  attention  and  receive  the  respect  of  English-American  theologians, 
many  of  whom  do  not  shun  a  journey  across  the  water  to  gather  the  fruits 
of  German  erudition."     {Kirc/icii/rcii7id,  1848,  pp.  2-3.) 

Sectarian  distinctions  were  to  be  avoided  :  Lutheran, 
Evangelical  and  Reformed  were  alike  to  be  sharers  in  the 
literary  contributions.  The  interests  and  life  of  the 
American-German  Churches  were  to  be  discussed,  while 
the  object  as  well  was  to  keep  in  touch  with  the  theology 
of  Germany  and  its  literature. 

Among  the  articles  Mr.  Mann  contributed  to  the  Kirch- 
enfreund  were  nine  papers  on  ' '  The  Church  of  the 
Present;"  "The  Present  Condition  of  Germany  viewed 
from  the  Historico-political  Standpoint;"  "Bible  Pic- 
tures;" "California  and  the  Isthmus  of  Panama;  a 
Glimpse  at  the  Future  of  the  World's  History;"  "The 
Needs  of  the  Germans  in  the  New  World  ; "  "A  Christmas 
Dream;"  "Universities  and  their  Influence  on  Public 
Life;"  "Glaus  Harms;  an  Autobiography;"  "A  New 
Year's  Letter  to  the  Kirchenfreiind;''''  "The  German  Press 
in  America;"  "The  New  Lutheran  Hymn  Book,  1849;" 
' '  Spiritual  Crumbs  ; "  "  Churchly  Tendencies  and  their 
Opponents  ; "  "  Emigration  ; "  "  Late  Attempts  at  Church 
Organization  in  Germany;"  "German  Theology  of  the 
Present  and  its  Influence;"  "Sowing  and  Reaping,  a 
Meditation  upon  Gen.  8,  22  ;"  "The  Future  of  the  Protes- 
tant Church  ;"  three  articles  on  "Jacob  Boehme,  the  Ger- 
man Theosophist ; "  "Liturgy  or  Extempore  Prayer  in 
Public  Service  ; "  "  Theses  on  Ordination  ; "  "  Christmas 
and  the  American  Presbyterian." 

These  titles  serve  to  show  the  variety  of  subjects  that 

engaged  his  attention.     Dr.  Spaeth  in  his  "Memorial"  of 

Dr.     Mann    says :     ' '  His    contributions    to     the  Kircheii- 

fretmd  cover   probably  the  widest  range   of  subjects  ever 

treated  in  such  a  journal  by  one  man." 


62  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

From  a  few  of  Mr.  Mann's  letters  to  Dr.  SchafF,  during 
these  years,  several  extracts  are  added,  interesting,  because 
characteristic  of  his  style  and  mental  activity,  and  of  the 
zest,  with  which  he  carried  on  his  literary  work. 

May  3d,  1848  .  .  .  "Your  welcome  letter  has  just  been  received.  lam 
quite  satisfied  with  the  titles  you  have  bestowed  upon  my  papers  on  '  The 
Church  of  the  Present.'  '  Church  and  School '  is  well-named,  so  is  '  The 
Nature  of  the  Church,'  (Das  Wesen  der  Kirche.)  If  I  think  of  it,  in  the 
future,  I  will  christen  the  children  of  my  theological  moods,  or  you  will 
be  troubled  to  do  it  again.  I  would  have  shortly  continued  the  articles  on 
the  Church  ;  but  if  you  had  rather  wait  a  while,  a  second  series  ma}'  fol- 
low later  ...  I  will  undoubtedly  review  the  '  Cosmos  '  if  you  want 
it.  There  ought  to  be  a  difference,  however,  between  the  article  for  the 
Kirch cn/7'e unci,  and  the  one  for  the  English  paper.  I  can  with  ease  write 
you  a  special  sketch  sometime.  ...  If  I  ever  conclude  to  write  any- 
thing for  English-speaking  people  on  Kant,  Schelling  and  Hegel,  it  will 
be  to  cause  this  three-starred  constellation  to  rise,  bright  and  clear,  upon 
the  night  of  my  own  forgetfulness,  and  that  I  may  again  be  absorbed  by 
these  three  spheres  on  the  mental  firmament  of  Germany.  I  am  indiff- 
erent to  the  savor  of  my  orthodoxy  in  the  modern  inquisitorial  nose. 
God  sees  further  ! ' ' 

June  27,  '48.  "  See  here,  dear  Doctor,  a  man,  a  word  !  Here  again  are 
chips  from  my  workshop.  And  this  time,  literally,  for  the  sake  of  the 
Catholic  Church !  Now  see  what  you  can  do  with  it.  The  Roman 
Church,  after  a  flattering  introduction,  has  nevertheless  fared  badly.  And 
the  criticism  is  not  yet  ended.  The  general  condition  of  her  morality, 
the  influence  of  Protestantism  upon  her,  and  various  other  points  are  yet 
to  come.  ...  N.  B.  Albertus  Magnus,  my  especial  favorite,  was  prob- 
ably the  first,  who,  in  so  northerly  a  region  as  Cologne  had  an  artificially 
heated  hot-house.  For  on  the  6th  of  January,  1249,  he  entertained  Wis- 
helm  of  Holland  in  a  large  hall,  artificially  heated,  under  fruit  trees  and 
blooming  plants  !     The  magician  !  " 

In  a  letter  of  that  year,  he  says  : 

' '  Indications  promise  for  the  Church  in  North  America  an  agitated,  but 
a  great  future.  I  feel  at  times,  that  now,  after  the  lapse  of  centuries, 
there  may  be  an  outpouring  of  the  spirit  of  love,  as  in  the  days  of  the 
Reformation  there  was,  of  the  spirit  of  faith. ' ' 

When  he  sent  the  "Christmas  Dream,"  for  the  Kii'chen- 
freimd  in  November,   1848,  he  wrote  : 

"Here  is  a  little  thing  for  December,   if  there  is  yet  time.     But,  of 


IN   THE   REFORMED  CHURCH.  63 

course,  you  know  there  is  not  much  reliance  to  be  placed  on  dreams  !  do 
with  it  what  you  please." 

Referring  to  other  contributions  to  that  journal,  he 
wrote : 

"As  soon  as  my  many  pastoral  engagements  permit,  I  shall  turn  to  '  the 
Church  of  the  Present.'  Material  is  collecting  in  the  interval.  I  feel 
inclined  to  undertake  character  sketches  of  the  most  significant  men  of 
Europe  (in  politics  and  so  forth)  during  the  last  thirty  years.  But  this  is 
somewhat  outside  the  domain  of  the  Kirchenfrcand,  if  the  work  is  to  be 
thorough.  It  requires  material,  too,  that  I  have  not  at  present,  particu- 
larly on  Louis  Philippe,  Mettemich,  Nicolas  I.,  Pius  IX.,  Guizot,  Thiers 
and  others. ' ' 

Having  written  two  articles  on  the  "Future  of  the  Pro- 
testant Church,"  he  says: 

"According  to  my  original  plan,  the  position  of  Universities  in  ref- 
erence to  the  Church  will  next  be  considered.  Later,  I  shall  take  up  the 
characteristic  features  of  the  spirit  of  our  time,  which  is  not  so  much 
irreligious  as  unchurchly.  The  whole  shall  be  designed  to  present  a  pic- 
ture of  the  times,  and  shall  seek  to  give  a  \aew  of  society  and  the  world, 
from  a  theological  standpoint,  without  moving  in  the  heavy,  cumbersome 
armor  of  scholastic  style. ' ' 

Toward  the  close  of  '48,  he  wrote  to  Dr.  Schaff : 

"Often,  wondering,  I  look  back  upon  your  past  and  mine.  And  in 
looking  toward  the  unknown  future,  nothing  makes  me  braver,  than 
humble  meditation  on  the  wonderful  way,  God's  hand— unseen  yet  visible 
to  the  eye  of  faith— has  led  us.  Therefore,  trusting  in  His  help,  un- 
worthy of  it  as  we  are,  let  us  strive  forward,  though  at  different  stations, 
—forward,  together,  toward  one  aim,  in  unity  of  spirit  and  in  hope  !  " 

In  his  editorial  at  the  close  of  the  first  twelve- 
month of  the  Kirchenfre2ind,  Dr.  Schaff  expressed  his  deep 
appreciation  of  the  able  and  arduous  labors  of  his  friend  ni 
these  touching  words : 

"  With  deep  emotion  and  with  adoration  of  the  wonderful  ways  of  God, 
we  record  our  special  thanks  to  one  of  our  contributors,  with  whom 
years  ago  in  the  dear  Fatherland,  we  wandered  through  the  cheerful 
scenes  of  Hellas  and  Latium,  and  the  sacred  halls  of  German  philosophy 
and  theolog3^  The  early  bonds  of  friendship  have  lasted  beyond  the 
days  of  Stuttgart  and  Tuebingen.     The  great  word  with  which  we  parted 


64  MEMOIR   OF   WIIvLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

ten  years  ago  :  '  The  lyord  be  between  me  and  thee  ',  has  been  our  guiding 
star  ;  and  now — per  varios  casus,  per  tot  discrbnina  rerunt — we  are  again 
united  in  the  new  world  for  new  work  in  the  '  Church  of  the  Present, '  for 
new  hopes  for  the  Church  of  the  future.  Under  God's  providence,  the 
former  home  has  become  strange  to  us,  and  the  strange  land  has  become 
a  home.  The  Church  of  the  living  God,  who  has  a  great  people  in 
America,  is  truly  the  believers'  fatherland ;  wherever  it  is,  there  the 
fountain  of  life  breaks  forth,  there  the  arch  of  peace  stretches  its  bow, 
there  the  gates  of  Heaven  are  opened."  {^Kirchenfreund,  1848,  pp.  382, 
383.) 

The  revolutions  in  Europe  in  '48,  and  especially  the 
struggle  for  freedom  in  Germany,  were  here  followed  by  the 
friends  with  the  most  intense  interest. 

May  I,  1848,  Mr.  Mann  writes  : 

"In  my  deepest  soul,  I  rejoice  that  Germany  is  in  this  ferment.  In- 
deed the  noblest  forces  of  the  nation  should  not  be  absorbed  by  theories, 
and  seek  to  live  in  the  clouds  while  so  much  work  lies  at  hand  to  be  done. 
The  arrogant  disregard  of  the  misery  of  the  masses,  and  the  abject  ser- 
vility near  the  thrones  are  miserably  unworthy  of  people,  who  call  them- 
selves Christians.  Now,  of  course,  much  that  is  rough  and  crude  will 
come  to  the  surface  ;  but  there  is  no  other  way  to  cleanse  the  Augean 
stable.  To  us,  Germany  has  changed  more  during  the  last  three  months 
than  it  would  have  done  in  the  preceding  twenty  years.  The  unexpected 
happens — liberal  parliaments,  free  press,  mass  meetings,  etc.  In  Stutt- 
gart, there  was  a  big  procession,  and  they  burn  the  effigy  of  the  King  of 
Prussia.  Who  will  bring  order  into  the  thirty-five  distracted  States? 
But  the  Reformation  of  the  i6th  Century  becomes  life  and  fact  over  there 
in  the  Old  World." 

June  24tli,  '48,  writing  on  the  same  subject,  he  says: 

"  I  do  not  doubt  for  one  moment,  that  out  of  all  this  turmoil  blessing 
will  result  for  the  kingdom  of  God.  Thousands  learn  to  grasp  life's 
object  and  its  issues  with  a  firmer  hand.  My  mother  writes,  that,  since 
these  storms  have  come,  the  churches  are  crowded  every  Sunday  and  more 
people  are  buying  Bibles  than  ever  before.  In  the  meantime,  Germany  is 
like  the  neighborhood  of  a  burning  powder  magazine,  one  expects  a  new 
shock  every  minute. ' ' 

September  15th,  1848 : 

"  My  verdict  on  the  revolutions  in  Germany  does  not  quite  agree  with 
yours.  The  petty  German  Governments  were  doing  decided  wrong,  were 
enforcing  entirely  selfish  monarchic  principles.     The  poor  people  waited 


IN   THE   REFORMED   CHURCH.  65 

long  and  had  patiently  begged  for  their  just  rights  without  redress.  I 
think  it  was  justifiable  from  a  Christian  standpoint  to  revolt  against  the 
oppression.  To  declare  the  revolution  the  outcome  of  the  efforts  of  a  few 
French  and  Poles  is  nonsense.     Violence,  of  course,  I  do  not  defend." 

In  March,  '49,  he  surveys  the  political  arena  of  Germany 
once  again  : 

"  If  I  compare  modern  with  ancient  history,  Germany  lies  before  me 
much  as  Greece  and  Asia  Minor  after  the  daj-s  of  Alexander  :  an  intense 
desire  for  individual  political  existence,  a  universal  striving  for  culture,  a 
golden  age  of  art,  sophistries  supplanting  the  faith  of  the  fathers,  elegant 
eclecticism  in  all  departments,  but  also  the  lack  of  independent  produc- 
tive power,  and  the  decay  of  the  distinctively  original  and  national. 
That  was  a  good  field  for  Romans  and  Parthians.  One  can  draw  a  parallel, 
too,  between  Napoleon  Bonaparte  and  Alexander.  Napoleon,  in  a  few 
years,  brought  East  and  West  nearer  to  each  other,  than  they  had  been  for 
centuries.  Monarchical  as  he  was,  he  made  revolution  the  watch-word 
for  Europe.  What  would  I  not  give  to  hope  for  a  truly  national  revivi- 
cation  for  Germany  !  Of  making  private  plans,  I  shall  probably  break 
my  head !  California  and  Panama,  the  Jews,  Church  Architecture, 
Church  Organization  in  Germany,  and  some  other  things  are  embryonic 
under  my  skull-cap.  But  take  comfort,  spring  awakes  to  new  activity 
and  gives  new  creative  powers.  May  a  baptism  of  mental  blossoms  fall 
like  a  benediction  on  the  Kirchenfreund  .' " 

When  Hungary  in  '49  sought  to  free  herself  from  foreign 
thrall,  he   rejoiced  in   her  bravery  and   hopes  of  success. 

"What  say  you,"  he  writes,  "to  Hungary's  heroic  efforts?  My 
expectations  have  been  far  surpassed.  I  cannot  do  otherwise  than  hope 
and  pray  for  a  heroic  people  fighting  for  their  freedom.  Prussia's  troops 
defeated,  Austria's  likewise, — the  eagles  of  two  empires  drag  their  pinions 
in  the  dust !  If  Hungary  succeeds,  the  cause  of  freedom  will  have 
received  a  great  impetus.  The  Princes  of  Europe  are  e\ddently  trying  to 
rivet  the  old  chains  of  wrong  and  oppression,  and  seek  to  banish  the  spirit 
of  the  century.  In  doing  this,  they  challenge  the  genius  of  our  day  to 
wild  revenge,  and  more  terrible  scenes,  than  any  the  world  has  yet  seen, 
may  be  enacted,  particularly  in  Germany.  PVance  is  playing  a  most 
ignoble  roll,  and  her  President,  that  miserable  comedian,  who  is  not  ca- 
pable of  one  noble  patriotic,  truly  republican  idea  or  feeling,  is  fooling  la 
grande  nation,  and  proving  that  she  is  fit  for  work  only  in  the  military 
jacket.     This  is  not  a  noble  public  spirit." 

It  is  not  surprising  that  in  the  constant  interchange  of 
thought  between  the  friends,  and  their  close  sympathy  in 
5 


66  MEMOIR  OP  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

each  other's  mental  and  spiritual  welfare,  we  should  hear 
sometimes  of  flagging  spirits  and  discouragement.  We 
quote  from  a  letter  of  February  12,  '49,  to  Dr.   Schafif: 

"Your  letter  bears  no  evidence  that  the  fount  of  your  spirit  is  dry, 
that  your  mental  elasticity  is  relaxed.  It  was  in  every  respect  most 
interesting.  Yet  I  am  not  surprised  that  your  ship  should,  too,  at  times 
run  upon  a  sand-bank  and  lie  by,  until  a  favoring  tide  again  sets  you 
adrift.  Who  escapes  the  ebb  ?  Did  I  not  suffer  it  often  myself,  I  would 
more  regularly  send  you  my  effusions  for  the  Kirchenfreund.  But  those 
material  things,  that  force  themselves  into  notice,  clogging  the  flight  of 
the  spirit  in  its  noblest  conceptions,  lie  like  destroying  poisoned  dew  on 
the  mind,  and  like  the  simoom's  hot  breath,  wither  the  soul's  aspirations. 
The  empty  talk  one  is  doomed  to  hear,  to  say  nothing  of  the  meanness, 
that  often  gracelessly  peeps  out  between  the  folds  of  poorly-patch ed-up 
polite  form,  and  that  one  is  forced  to  ignore  ! — Oh,  I  know  the  old  lum- 
ber room  full  of  frippery, — it  is  the  world !  And  my  wings  droop  more 
quickly,  too,  than  yours  !  Then,  too,  continually  making  sermons  con- 
siimes  much  power  of  production  ;  for  to  my  sermons,  I  always  give 
conscientious  work,  and  to  force  the  spirit  is  of  no  avail  !  But  you  shall 
soon  have  a  new  article.  I  think  a  second  paper  on  Bible-pictures  this 
week." 

This  transition  at  the  end  of  the  letter  is  characteristic. 
If  for  a  little  while  the  heavy  chains  dragged  upon  his 
spirits,  they  were  soon  shaken  off,  and  his  soul  rose  pure 
and  free  to  higher  realms.  His  enthusiastic  nature,  full  of 
superabundant  life,  mental  and  spiritual,  found  a  calm 
haven  in  the  work,  which  was  his  delight.  To  write  a 
learned  essay,  or  to  comfort  some  humble  fellow-man,  or  to 
minister  consolation  to  the  sick,  or  to  throw  his  whole 
mind  and  ardor  into  preaching,  all  brought  him  that 
serene  happiness,  that  drove  away  sad  meditations,  because 
they  were  the  fulfillment  of  duty,  and  as  such,  they  brought 
him  peace.  His  unfailing  humor,  too,  that  cropped  out 
everywhere,  brightening  his  sayings  and  turning  uncom- 
fortable things  into  pleasantries,  made  him  always  gay  and 
cheerful. 

Systematic  in  the  division  of  time,  scrupulously  given  to 
order  in  the  things  about  him,  his  mind  worked  on  the 
same  lines.     He  had  made  thorough  concentration  a  habit, 


IN  THE  REFORMED  CHURCH.  67 

and  his  mental  powers  responded  easily  and  quickly  to  his 
demands.  The  result  was  that  he  worked  with  great  rap- 
idity, and  this  alone  enabled  him  to  accomplish  so  much. 
His  diary  records  :  "I  work  more  quickly  than  I  used  to. ' ' 
And  again,  "Yesterday  I  sat  down  and  wrote  eight  pages  of 
manuscript  in  a  trice.  I  got  a  little  out  of  breath  toward 
the  end. ' ' 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

THE  FIRST  YEARS  IN  PHIIvADELPHIA. 

Marriage. 

TN  presenting  the  literary  work  of  this  period,  we  have 
been  brought  several  years  forward,  and  must  return  to 
review  the  narrative  of  events.  When  in  1846,  William 
Julius  Mann  came  to  Philadelphia,  he  was  a  stranger  in  a 
strange  land,  and  he  greatly  missed  the  sweet  solace  of 
' '  brotherly  love. ' '  Amid  the  new  surroundings,  with  new 
work  and  new  cares  before  him,  he  gladly  made  use  of  a 
letter  of  introduction  from  Stuttgart,  to  distant  connections 
in  this  city.  In  the  home  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin 
Schmauk,  to  whom  he  was  thus  directed,  he  became,  espe- 
cially during  the  first  years  of  his  life  in  Philadelphia,  a 
constant  and  welcome  visitor.  To  the  many  kindnesses  he 
received  at  the  hands  of  Mrs.  Schmauk  and  her  sister.  Miss 
Mina  Schultz,  he  often  gratefully  referred  in  after  years. 
Members  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  in  which  he  afterwards 
ministered  for  so  many  years,  he  became  their  pastor,  and 
this  new  relation  strengthened  and  hallowed  a  friendship, 
which  lasted  through  life. 

At  their  golden  wedding,  which  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmauk 
lived  to  celebrate  long  afterwards.  Dr.  Mann  made  the  fes- 
tive speech  ;  and  when,  rich  in  years,  they  were  laid  to  rest 
upon  the  grave  of  each,  he  laid  a  memorial  of  his  loving 
reo-ard,  and  a  tribute  to  their  noble  Christian  lives  and 
characters. 

Mr.  Mann  encouraged  their  son  Benjamin,. whose  capac- 
ity and  desire  for  study  he  soon  remarked,  to  prepare  him- 
68 


THE   FIRST  YEARS   IN   PHILADELPHIA.  69 

self  for  the  ministry.  During  several  successive  years,  the 
younger  man,  with  one  or  two  other  candidates  of  theology, 
received  instruction  in  the  classics  and  theology  from  Mr. 
Mann.  The  Rev.  Benjamin  Schmauk  became  a  faithful 
laborer  in  the  Church,  and  is  a  highly-honored  member  of 
the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania. 

In  September,  '46,  Mr.  Robert  Otto,  a  cousin  of  Mr. 
Mann's,  came  to  Philadelphia  from  Germany.  Introduced 
by  letter  to  the  family  of  Mr.  Schmauk,  he  soon  found 
them  his  nearest  and  dearest  friends,  and  his  marriage,  some 
years  later,  with  their  only  daughter,  Theresa,  was  another 
bond  that  united  the  families.  The  father  of  Mr.  Otto,  was 
a  man  of  remarkable  mental  acumen,  with  a  deep  insight 
into  political  and  social  affairs.  He  was  an  intimate  friend 
of  the  Rev.  Rudolph  j\Iann,  the  brother  of  William  Julius. 
For  more  than  thirty  years,  Mr.  Mann  carried  on  a  volu- 
minous correspondence  with  this  uncle,  who  had  an  intense 
interest  in  the  progress  of  America,  and  everything  pertain- 
ing to  the  real  welfare  of  humanity. 

During  this  year,  Mr.  Mann  had  the  pleasure  of  a  visit 
from  his  elder  brother,  Charles,  who  came  to  America. 
Though  he  lived  in  New  York,  w^hither  business  interests 
had  called  him,  the  brothers  were  frequently  together,  and 
they  deemed  the  beloved  Stuttgart  home  less  far  away,  while 
they  could  together  recall  the  joys  of  the  past,  and  share 
each  other's  letters,  that  brought  news  from  across  the  wa- 
ter. Together  during  the  following  year,  they  lamented 
the  death  of  their  elder  brother,  Victor,  who  was  cut  off  in 
the  prime  of  his  manhood ;  and  sorrowfully  did  they  feel 
the  great  distance  that  separated  them  from  mourning  pa- 
rents, relatives  and  friends. 

The  Lutheran  St.  Paul's  Church  was  very  near  Salem 
Church  and  the  new  minister,  whose  sermons  were  so  at- 
tractive, frequently  had  among  his  audience  many  members 
of  the  neighboring  congregation.  Among  these,  none 
more  fully  appreciated  his  depth  of  thought,  his  clear,  soul- 


JO  MEMOIR   OF  WII.UAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

stirring  and  soul-liealing  exposition  of  the  Word  of  God, 
than  Mr.  John  Rommel,  a  member  of  the  vestry  of  St. 
Paul's  Church  and,  for  more  than  thirty  years.  Superintend- 
ent of  its  Sunday  School.  Having  seen  him  in  the  pulpit, 
and  being  an  old  friend  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Schmauk,  in  whose 
house  his  wife  had  met  Mr.  Mann,  Mr.  Rommel  accosted 
the  young  preacher  when  they  were  riding  down  town  one 
day,  in  an  old  time  omnibus. 

The  conversation  turned  upon  church  miisic  and  the 
old  German  choral.  Mr.  Rommel  regretted  not  playing 
the  piano,  as  the  flute,  which  he  knew  how  to  play,  was 
not  adapted  to  music  of  that  kind.  "If  you  care  to  learn," 
said  Mr.  Mann,  "I  will  come  and  teach  you,  and  with  your 
fine  ear  for  music,  you  will  soon  know  enough  to  play  cho- 
rals without  the  notes."  The  friendly  offer  was  accepted, 
and  the  friendship  there  begun  was  destined '  to  blossom 
into  the  nearest  and  dearest  family  ties. 

Both  men  in  the  long  after-years  of  their  close  relationship 
and  intercourse  were  very  dear  to  one  another.  There  was 
much  in  the  character  of  each  that  attracted  the  other. 
With  a  clear,  sound  judgment  of  men,  the  elder  recognized 
in  the  younger,  the  man  of  noble  parts  and  high  ideals ; 
with  a  strong  thirst  for  knowledge,  which  in  his  youth  had 
not  been  satisfied  by  a  higher  classical  education,  he  rejoiced 
in  the  breadth  of  the  other's  mental  horizon ;  with  a  thor- 
ough knowledge  of  God's  word  and  a  marvelously  rich 
fund  of  the  grand  German  hymnology,  he  delighted  to  con- 
verse about  these  treasures,  in  which  the  other  was  ever 
delving ;  with  a  dry  humor  and  a  keen  appreciation  of  fun, 
he  delighted  in  the  bright  ready  wit  of  the  other,  who  only 
needed  such  a  stimulus  to  bubble  over  with  merriment. 
Innumerable  were  the  happy  talks  and  laughs  they  had  to- 
gether, that  rejuvenated  the  one  and  refreshed  the  other. 

"The  traditional  love  of  the  German  for  music"  was 
alive  in  all  the  members  of  Mr.  Rommel's  household,  and 
the  young  clergyman  was  soon  well  acquainted  with  the 


THE   FIRST   YEARS   IN   PHILADELPHIA.  71 

good  mother  of  the  family  and  the  )'oung  people.  In  the 
eldest  danghter,  who  mnch  resembled  her  father  in  mental 
bent  and  character,  he  found  "the  loving  companion  of  his 
life's  voyage."  He  was  married,  by  the  Rev.  H.  Bibighans 
on  the  7th  of  August,  1849,  to  Margaretta  Catherine  Rom- 
mel, and  this  happy  union  ' '  completed  the  man  and  the 
pastor  for  his  work. ' ' 

Years  after,  when  writing  the  life  of  Henry  Llelchior 
Muhlenberg,  it  pleased  him  to  discover,  that  music  had 
introduced  Muhlenberg,  as  it  had  him,  to  the  family 
of  his  future  wife.  Even  before  his  marriage,  Mr.  Mann 
was  fully  and  freely  received  as  a  beloved  member  of  the 
familv  circle.  Between  him  and  ]\Irs.  Rommel,  an  abidino- 
friendship  sprang  up,  which  united  them  through  life.  He 
highly  appreciated  her  sound  common  sense,  and  practical 
insight  into  the  affairs  of  the  world,  and  she  greatly  admired 
and  loved  him.  How  much  he  good-humoredly  teased 
her,  and  how  often  he  amused  her,  the  large  circle  of  her 
children  and  grand-children  delight  to  remember. 

In  this  family  of  German  stock,  in  which  the  young  gen- 
eration was  fast  growing  American,  "Sir.  IMann  revived  the 
dear  old  customs  of  the  Fatherland  at  Christmas  time  and 
birthday  celebrations.  And  it  needed  only  this  impulse  to 
make  old  and  young  heartily  join  in  all  the  surprises  and 
jokes,  that  were  invented  for  the  family  gatherings,  where 
gifts  were  often  presented  in  verse,  and  poems  celebrated 
special  occasions.  But  the  full  glories  of  Christmas  celebra- 
tions were  only  altogether  unveiled,  when  little  children  of 
the  third  generation  gave  a  new  significance  to  the  festivities. 

The  summer  of  '49  was  a  distressing  one,  because  the 
cholera  was  raging.  The  diary  notes  "from  thirteen  to 
fifteen  people  die  daily  of  cholera."  Friday,  August  3rd, 
was  set  apart  as  a  day  of  humiliation  and  prayer,  because 
of  the  scourofe. 

The  young  pastor  was  peculiarly  exposed  to  the  disease 
in  his  visitations  among  the  sick  ;  and  that  in  the  threaten- 


72  MEMOIR   OF  WILI.IAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

ing  danger,  he  might  have  the  comfort  of  wifely  care,  the 
marriage  took  place  some  months  sooner,  than  was  at  first 
the  intention. 

The  new  home  was  on  Green  Street,  and  there  were  busy- 
preparations  for  the  new  housekeeping.  Says  the  diary : 
"Can  I  ever  forget  dear  Mrs.  Rommel's  forethought,  care 
and  patience  in  the  furnishing  and  arrangement  of  our 
house?  What  will  parents  not  do  for  their  children  !  From 
others,  too,  we  receive  many  marks  of  love  and  kindness." 
And  again:  "All  my  books  were  moved  into  our  new 
home  to-day.  To  rearrange  them  was  a  great  work ;  but 
thanks  tomy  good  friends,  who  helped  me,  all  are  now  in 
good  order  in  my  new  study."  The  day  on  which  the 
keys  of  the  house  were  given  into  his  keeping  is  literally  a 
red  letter  day  in  the  diary. 

On  his  wedding  day,  he  notes:  "The  solemn,  eventful 
day  has  come  !  Beautiful  and  clear  the  sun  arose,  the  sky 
is  blue  and  cloudless.  I  am  particularly  happy  my  brother 
could  come  over  from  New  York,  and  I  had  a  charming 
letter  from  Dr.  Schaff  this  morning.  The  Bible  verse  to- 
day is  Ps.  105,  8,  and  the  text  Rom.  8,  i.  Verily  the 
Lord  will  forever  remember  his  covenant,  though  we  so 
often  fail  to  keep  it !  O,  that  there  were  for  us  really 
no  condemnation,  that  we  were  always  in  Christ  Jesus, 
righteous  and  holy  in  him  and  through  him,  that  we 
walked  not  after  the  flesh,  but  after  the  Spirit.  Then, 
indeed,  could  one  take  such  a  solemn  step  as  marriage  with- 
out care,  without  uncertainty,  only  and  altogether  in  holy 
joy  !  My  beloved  bride  seems  composed  and  happy.  She 
is  fully  conscious  of  the  seriousness  of  this  day ;  but  she 
knows  that  our  life  together,  with  the  joys  and  sorrows 
that  will  come  is  in  God's  keeping.  Could  she  come  to  me 
with  richer  dowry  than  her  firm  faith  in  Him,  and  her 
trust  in  the  guidance  of  His  Holy  Spirit?  Oh,  that  we 
might  ever  be  altogether  true  to  our  God,  then  would  we 
at  all  times  be  entirely  loving,  devoted,  patient  and  unsel- 
fish toward  one  another." 


THE   FIRST  YEARS   IN   PHILADELPHIA.  y^ 

In  the  first  happy  days  in  the  new  home,  he  writes  : 
"That  my  dear  wife  speaks  German  with  ease  is  of  more 
importance  to  my  happiness  than  I  would  have  supposed  ! 
Instead  of  studying,  I  am  playing  duets  with  my  wife.  We 
are  just  now  deep  in  the  beauties  of  Haydn's  symphonies." 

During  this  year  there  were  many  additions  to  his 
library,  and  occasionally  criticisms  and  opinions  of  books 
read  or  studied  at  the  time  are  noted.  Of  the  "  Divina 
Commedia,"  he  says,  "It  is  a  glorious  oratorio  in  words," 
and  of  Jean  Paul  he  writes  :  "What  a  Titanic  spirit  he 
reveals  !  He  looks  through  a  magic  world  deep  into  the 
real  world  about  him.  It  costs  some  labor  to  follow  his 
fantasies  ;  he  paints  in  colors  of  fire.  He  is  full  of  life,  but 
he  lives  in  a  fever  !"  "I  have  read,"  he  says,  "in  the  last 
weeks  the  three  volumes  of  Schubert's  Journey  to  Palestine 
with  much  benefit  and  pleasure.  What  childlike  and  yet 
what  comprehensive  and  clear  insight,  what  a  noble  hu- 
manity and  all-embracing  love  it  reveals  !' ' 

A  number  of  years  after  this  Dr.  Mann  reviewed  the  first 
volume  of  the  "  Autobiography,"  by  the  same  writer.  In 
acknowledgment  of  this,  Dr.  Von  Schubert,  who  was  then 
long  past  three  score  and  ten,  sent  him,  with  the  two  suc- 
ceeding volumes  of  the  work,  a  letter  which  I  here  append. 
To  the  deep  and  abiding  beauties  of  the  ' '  Autobiography' ' 
Dr.  Mann  often  turned,  and  during  the  last  months  of  his 
life,  he  re-read  the  book. 

"Dr.  Gotthilf  Heinrich  von  Schubert  to  Dr.  Wm.  J.  Mann. 
''My  beloved friefid and  brother  hi  the  Lord : 

"  Scientists  tell  us  that  the  countries  of  Western  Europe,  to  which  also 
our  dear  German  fatherland  belongs,  owe  the  mildness  and  geniality  of 
their  climate,  which  markedly  distinguishes  them  from  those  Ij'ing 
farther  eastward,  to  the  warm  ocean  currents  which  America  sends  out 
from  the  great  gulf  that  lies  near  her  heart's  center.  A  spirit  similar  in 
mildness  and  comforting  warmth  seemed  to  breathe  upon  me  from  the 
pages  of  your  kind  letter  of  last  month  ;  a  warmth  which  the  human 
heart  cannot  radiate  unless  it  has  been  touched  by  the  finger  of  God's 
love,  the  source  of  all  life  awakening  in  the  souls  of  men  who  approach 
it  responding  life  and  love.     What  joy  could  be  greater  than  to  feel  and 


74  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

to  know  that  as  faithful  and  loving  members,  united  in  Him,  we  also 
belong  to  Him  ;  that  the  voice  of  His  bride,  the  Church,  is  heard  also 
through  us,  the  voice  which  joyfully  proclaims,  He  is  mine  and  I  am 
His  ?  In  this  spirit  of  love,  I  greet  you,  my  dear  companion  on  our  com- 
mon journey  to  the  eternal  home  ! 

' '  Our  young  friend.  Dr.  Albert  Zeller,  has  already  introduced  us  to 
you  in  his  book,  and  presented  you  very  vividly  to  us  ;  and  now  your 
letter  does  even  more,  it  draws  me  strongly  to  your  heart.  I  did  not 
know  that  we  had  once  seen  each  other,  probably  in  1835  !  Well,  in  the 
next  world,  where  by  God's  mercy  we  shall  be  gathered  together,  we 
shall  see  and  know  each  other  better.  In  thoughts  and  work,  by  our 
mental  bent  and  life's  calling,  we  are  already  associated  with  one  another. 
I/et  us  often  faithfully  remember  one  another  while  life  lasts  ! 

' '  You,  indeed,  have  therein  taken  the  initiative.  By  your  loving  and 
lovely  review  of  the  first  volume  of  my  '  Autobiography '  you  have 
encouraged  and  gladdened  me.  As  a  slight  token  of  my  gratitude,  I 
send  you,  through  my  publisher,  the  continuation  of  the  work  to  its 
completion  in  the  third  volume.  If  you  have  not  yet  received  it,  I  trust 
it  will  shortly  be  in  your  hands.  Another  little  book,  '  Magic  Hours,' 
taking  advantage  of  this  opportunity,  will  reach  you  also,  and  may,  as  it 
refers  to  America,  be  of  interest  to  you. 

' '  As  Wurtemberg  is  your  home,  the  universal  sorrow  at  the  death  of 
the  Duchess  Henrietta,  at  Kirchheim  u.  Teck,  will  not  leave  you  un- 
moved. Dr.  Barth  informed  me  of  her  departure.  '  Our  loss, '  he  writes, 
'  in  the  going  home  of  this  true  mother  in  Israel  is  inexpressibly  great. 
Strength  of  mind,  clearness  of  judgment,  forethought.  Christian  firm- 
ness and  faith  are  not  often  found  united  in  so  high  a  degree,  as  we 
found  them  in  her.  There  was  nothing  sentimental  or  fantastic  about 
her.  Without  great  means,  she  did  a  wonderful  amount  of  good,  and  her 
left  hand  knew  not  what  her  right  had  done.  I  dare  not  think  of  poor, 
stricken  Kirchheim  and  the  empty  castle  ! ' 

' '  As  our  dear  brother  Barth  mourns,  so  the  whole  of  Wurtemberg, 
and  especially  all  faithful  disciples  of  our  I^ord,  mourn  for  her.  And  we 
sorrow  with  our  friends.  The  loss  is,  of  course,  most  deeply  felt  by  those 
who  had  the  happiness  of  being  personally  acquainted  with  this  noble 
and  gifted  woman. 

"The  Lord  be  with  you,  and  bless  your  rest  and  your  work  !  May  He 
bless  your  household  and  the  field  of  your  labors,  your  going  out  and 
your  coming  in  !  Living  in  Him  and  His  love,  we  remain  united.  My 
family  greets  with  me  you  and  all  your  dear  ones. 

' '  With  affectionate  regard, 

G.  H.  Schubert. 
"  Munich,  January  19,  1857." 


THE   FIRST  YEARS   IN   PHILADELPHIA.  75 

During  '48  and  '49,  I\Ir.  ]\Iann  was  engaged,  in  response 
to  a  request  that  had  frequently  been  made  to  him,  in  pre- 
paring a  collection  of  hymns  for  the  use  of  the  German 
Reformed  Church.  "  To  select  one  hundred,"  he  writes, 
"  from  among  so  many  beautiful  ones,  is  not  easy.  The 
German  Reformed  Church  ought  to  have  a  new  hymn 
book,  but  it  is  yet,  perhaps,  too  soon.  The  Lutheran  hymn 
book,  the  new  one  just  published,  it  seems  to  me,  would 
suit  us  well."  This  beautiful  collection  from  the  rich 
treasures  of  Gennan  hymnology,  by  Dr.  Demme,  he  re- 
viewed in  the  Kwchenfreiuid^  in  1850.  Mr.  Mann's  sub- 
sequent call  to  the  Lutheran  Church  interfered  with  the 
work  he  had  undertaken,  and  Dr.  SchafF,  in  1850,  prepared 
a  hymn  book  for  the  German  Reformed  Church. 


CHAPTER   IX. 

PASTORAL   WORK.      1 850-1 860. 
Call  to  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  Congregation. 

DURING  liis  pastorate  at  Salem  Congregation,  Mr,  Mann 
liad  become  well  known  as  a  preacher  beyond  the  lim- 
its of  the  Reformed  Church.  In  1846,  he  had  declined  a  call 
to  the  Lutheran  Church  in  Brooklyn.  In  those  days,  denom- 
inational lines  between  the  Lutheran  and  the  Reformed 
Churches  were  very  much  less  distinctly  marked  than  at 
present.  To  theologians  from  German  universities,  the 
question  of  positive  Christianity,  in  its  struggle  against 
negative  encroachments,  far  overshadowed  the  minor  ques- 
tions of  divergent  confessions.  Peculiar  conditions  in 
America  afterwards  brought  about  a  greater  difference  in 
confessional  standpoints.  The  basis  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  Church  in  America  was  then  not  so  definitely 
outlined  as  it  became  in  the  next  decade,  when  Mr.  Mann, 
firm  and  clear  in  his  convictions,  and  fully  appreciating  the 
sacred  legacy  of  the  Lutheran  confession,  used  his  voice 
and  pen  to  defend  the  fortress  of  true  Lutheranism. 

Interchange  of  pulpits  between  Lutheran  and  Reformed 
ministers,  at  that  time,  was  not  uncommon.  When  Dr. 
Philip  Schaflfcame  to  Philadelphia,  in  1844,  he  had  a  letter 
of  introduction  to  Dr.  Denime,  as  the  most  prominent  Ger- 
man clergyman  of  the  city,  and  he  preached  in  St.  Paul's 
Lutheran  Church.  In  after  years,  while  he  was  professor 
at  the  theological  seminary  of  the  Reformed  Church  at 
Mercersburg,  he  occasionally  preached  for  his  friend  in 
Salem  Reformed  Church  in  the  morning,  and  filled  Dr. 
76 


PASTORAL  WORK.  'J'J 

Demme's  pulpit  in  St.  Michael's  Lutheran  Church  in  the 
evening.  During  his  pastorate  at  Salem  Congregation,  Mr. 
]\Iann  occasionally  preached  for  Dr.  Demme  or  for  Rev. 
Mr.  Reichert.  Rev.  Dr.  Bibighaus  also  spoke  at  mission  or 
other  festivals  in  one  or  the  other  of  the  Lutheran  Churches. 
It  was  a  time  when  "confessional  differences"  created  no 
difficulties  in  matters  of  that  kind,  and  when  in  planning 
the  work  of  such  a  journal  as  the  KircJieiifreuiid^  it  was 
designed  to  be  an  organ  of  both  communions. 

Wm.  Julius  Mann  was  a  Lutheran  by  birth,  confirmation 
and  conviction.  The  greater  laxity  of  that  day  in  distinc- 
tive confessional  consciousness  made  his  membership  in  the 
Reformed  Synod  no  denial  of  Lutheranism.  The  Reformed 
Church  trusted  his  teaching  and  gladly  welcomed  him  as  a 
fellow-laborer.  But  there  were  many  reasons,  why  he  should 
prefer  to  be  in  synodical  connection  with  that  part  of  the 
church  which  was  entirely  in  harmony  with  his  own  con- 
victions, and  Providence  prepared  the  way  for  his  ultimate 
life-work  in  the  Lutheran  Church. 

There  were,  especially  at  this  time,  some  practices  spring- 
ing up  in  the  church  at  large  with  which  he  could  not  sym- 
pathize. The  attempt  to  spread  Christianity  by  the  tempo- 
rary excitement  of  special  prayer-meetings,  and  Methodistic 
revivals  was  most  objectionable  to  him.  He  well  knew 
that  these  availed  little.  He  realized  that  the  only  way 
to  a  better  condition,  was  a  better  knowledge  of  the  truths 
of  the  gospel,  and  their  widespread  personal  appropriation. 
He  knew  that  from  the  pulpit  the  people  must  be  reached. 
He  looked  there  for  that  earnest  and  profound  exposition 
and  application  of  the  word  of  God,  that  would  move 
the  hearts  to  daily  repentance  and  conversion. 

In  the  services,  too,  he  greatly  missed  the  use  of  the 
liturg}',  and  he  often  lamented  during  the  first  years  of  his 
labors  in  America,  particularly  during  his  connection  with 
the  Reformed  Church,  the  absence  of  the  liturgy,  which 
"  lends  devotion  and  solemnity  to  the  service."     After  the 


78  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JUUUS   MANN. 

meeting  of  Synod,  in  1847,  he  expressed  disappointment 
because  no  committee  had  been  named  to  frame  a  form  of 
liturgical  service.  "The  prospects  of  thorough-going  re- 
form in  this  respect  are  poor,"  he  writes. 

During  the  year  1850,  St  Michael's  and  Zion's  German 
Lutheran  Congregation  felt  the  growing  need  of  an  assistant 
pastor  to  aid  the  Rev.  Dr.  Demme  and  Rev.  Mr.  Reichert 
in  the  care  of  their  extensive  parish.  Their  thoughts  were 
very  naturally  directed  to  the  gifted  young  preacher  of 
Salem  Church,  whose  sermons  were  so  gladly  heard  by  the 
Lutherans  whenever  an  opportunity  presented  itself.  Dr. 
Demme  had  long  recognized  in  the  preaching,  the  theology, 
and  the  character  of  Mr.  Mann,  the  pastor  to  whom  he 
would  most  willingly  entrust  the  spiritual  care  of  his  own 
flock.  In  the  first  year  of  their  acquaintance,  he  regretted 
the  young  clergyman's  connection  with  the  Reformed 
Church,  because  he  needed  just  such  a  man  as  his  co- 
laborer,  as  he  already  felt  the  weight  of  advancing  years. 
"  He  seems  to  rejoice,"  says  the  diary  some  months  later, 
"  that  I  am  once  more  in  the  bosom  of  the  Lutheran 
Church. ' ' 

Fully  convinced  that  Mr.  Mann  was  animated  by  the 
spirit  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  and  ' '  having  learned  that 
he  would  be  willing  to  join  the  Synod  of  Pennsylvania," 
the  vestry  of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  Congregation,  unani- 
mously elected  him  assistant  pastor  on  the  i8th  of  Septem- 
ber, 1850.  This  announcement  was  received  with  the 
deepest  regret  by  the  pastor  and  people  of  Salem  Church. 
Nor  did  Dr.  Mann  consent  to  leave  Dr.  Bibighaus  and  his 
charge,  until  a  suitable  successor  had  been  found.  From 
the  members  of  Salem  Congregation,  he  received  many 
touching  testimonials  and  tributes  of  love  and  esteem. 

On  the  15th  of  October,  he  wrote  to  Dr.  J.  W.  Richards, 
the  President  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  inform- 
ing him  of  the  call  he  had  received,  and  stating  that  he 
desired  to  become  a  member  of  that  body.     On  the  19th, 


PASTORAL  WORK. 


79 


having  received  a  favorable  reply,  Mr.  Mann  accepted  the 
call  to  St.  ^Michael's  and  Zion's  Congregation. 

On  the  3d  of  November,  1850,  he  preached  his  first  ser- 
mon in  Zion  Church,  on  2  Tim.,  2:3:  "Thou,  therefore, 
endure  hardness  as  a  good  soldier  of  Jesus  Christ."  Says 
the  diar}-,  "Church  was  full,  though  the  sky  was  overcast.  I 
had  to  speak  ver>^  loud  in  that  great  building,  but  I  was  not 
too  much  exhausted  after^vards.  With  God's  help,  fonvard !' ' 

St.  :Michaers  and  Zion's  Congregation,  the  venerable 
Mother  Church  of  the  Lutheran  denomination  in  America, 
was  organized  by  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg,  the 
patriarch  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  this  country,  in  1742. 
As  early  as  1748,  St.  Michael's  Church  was  dedicated.  But 
the  capacity  of  that  building,  which  seated  about  seven  hun- 
dred persons,  was  soon  far  too  small  for  the  necessities  of 
the  congregation,  and  in  1766  the  corner  stone  of  a  new  and 
much  larger  edifice  was  laid.  Zion  Church,  at  the  south- 
east comer  of  Cherry  and  Fourth  Streets,  only  a  square 
from  St.  Michael's,  for  years  the  "largest  and  finest  church 
on  the  Continent,"  was  dedicated  on  the  25th  of  June,  1769. 

This  building,  in  which  many  notable  assemblies  oc- 
curred during  the  early  days  of  the  Republic,  in  which 
the  highest  dignitaries  of  the  Country  assembled  in  1790  to 
do  honor  to  the  memor>^  of  Benjamin  Franklin,  in  which 
Washington's  funeral  oration  was  delivered  in  1799,  in 
which,  in  1817,  the  three  hundredth  anniversary  of  the  Re- 
formation was  celebrated  with  great  eclat  by  the  Protestant 
denominations  of  Philadelphia,  "has  passed  into  histor}-." 
The  building  was  one  hundred  and  eight  feet  long  by 
seventy  feet  wide,  with  a  "snow-white,"  vaulted  roof,  and  it 
seated  two  thousand  five  hundred  persons.  It  was  used  by 
the  congregation  for  divine  ser\-ice  until  1868  ;  and  to  those 
who  worshipped  there,  the  impressive  services  in  which  so 
great  an  assemblage  took  part,  sustained  by  the  tones  of  the 
magnificent  organ,  "the  largest  and  grandest  in  America," 
will  forever  be  memorable. 


8o  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"  Great  stress  was  laid  upon  keeping  the  congregation 
united  under  one  corporation,  a  relation  which  was  retained 
until  1867,  so  that  for  a  hundred  years,  we  find  two,  and 
sometimes  three,  pastors  jointly  in  charge  of  the  one  con- 
gregation." As  early  as  1761,  the  first  parochial  school- 
house  was  erected  on  Cherry  Street,  near  Fourth,  which, 
in  1794,  was  supplemented  by  a  second  at  the  corner  of 
St.  John  and  Brown  Streets,  in  the  "Northern  Liberties." 
In  1840,  a  third  church,  St.  Paul's,  was  dedicated  to  the 
service  of  Almighty  God. 

This  congregation,  numerically  and  historically  impor- 
tant, was  a  little  more  than  one  hundred  years  old  when 
Mr.  Mann  accepted  the  call  as  assistant  pastor  to  the  Rev. 
Dr.  Charles  Rudolph  Demme  and  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Reichert. 
Dr.  H.  M.  Muhlenberg,  who  organized  the  congregation,  was 
its  pastor  for  a  period  of  twenty-nine  years.  During  his  pas- 
torate. Dr.  J.  H.  C.  Helmuth  was  called,  who  served,  the 
congregation  for  forty-five  years.  During  the  last  twelve 
years  of  Dr.  Helmuth' s  pastorate,  which  ended  in  1824,  ^^^ 
for  fourteen  years  afterwards.  Dr.  F.  D.  Schaeffer  was  in 
charge.  In  1822  Dr.  C.  R.  Demme  became  pastor,  and, 
though  for  the  last  five  years  of  his  life  he  was  physically 
unable  to  perform  active  service,  he  was  officially  connected 
with  the  congregation  for  forty-one  years.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
Mann's  pastorate  lasted  until  1884,  so  that  during  a  period 
of  one  hundred  and  fifty  years,  the  congregation  was  under 
the  care  of  five  pastors  who  directly  succeeded  each  other. 

Other  men  of  great  fidelity,  learning  and  ability  also 
served  as  pastors  during  this  period,  for  there  were  always 
two,  and  sometimes  three,  in  charge  at  the  same  time. 
Some  of  them  also  served  for  many  years.  The  Rev.  Dr. 
J.  C.  Kunze  officiated  for  fourteen  years,  the  Rev.  Dr. 
Schmidt  for  twenty-six  years.  But  in  a  direct  Ime  Wm. 
Julius  Mann  was  the  fifth  pastor  from  Heinrich  Melchior 
Muhlenberg. 

In  the  large  congregation,  there  was  abundant  work  for 


PASTORAL  WORK.  8 1 

three  pastors.  The  parish  extended  over  the  whole  terri- 
tor>-  of  the  city,  for  from  Kensington  to  Sonthwark,  the 
Gennan  Lutherans  were  scattered.  To  visit  the  members 
to  comfort  the  sick,  to  pray  with  the  dying,  to  attend  to 
christenings,  marriages  and  funerals,  when  the  distances 
were  so  great  and  the  demands  so  constant,  was  exhausting 
and  time-consuming  work.  In  those  days,  too,  omnibuses, 
"Glenat's  Coaches,"  were  "the  only  convenient  and  acces- 
sible means  of  local  travel."  Even  these  traversed  only 
the  principal  streets  of  the  city,  and  many  a  long  and  tiring 
walk  was  inchided  in  the  faithful  pastor's  labor. 

The  three  churches  of  the  congregation  were  all  used  for 
divine  service:  Zion  and  St.  Paul's  on  Sunday  mornings,  and 
St.  Paul's  and  St.  Michael's  in  the  evenings.  Once  in  the 
month,  an  afternoon  service  on  Sunday  was  held  in  Zion 
Church.  The  pastors  preached  alternately  in  the  houses  of 
worship,  no  one  restricting  himself  to  one  pulpit.  "  Kin- 
derlehr"  (catechization  of  the  older  pupils  of  the  Sunday- 
school)  was  held  every  Sunday  afternoon  by  one  of  the 
pastors  in  St.  Michael's  Church. 

During  the  first  years  of  his  connection  with  the  congre- 
gation as  assistant  pastor,  Mr.  ]\Iann  preached  on  Sunday 
mornings  in  Camden  or  Frankford,  establishing  missions 
there  which  have  long  since  become  self-supporting  con- 
gregations. 

The  calls  for  his  pastoral  ministrations  were  almost  con- 
stant. In  reviewing  those  years,  it  seems  incredible  that  he 
could  accomplish  and  endure  so  much  work,  especially  as  it 
required  not  only  physical  and  mental  effort,  but  was  often, 
as  well,  a  tax  upon  the  sympathy  and  emotions.  During 
the  hot  weather,  he  did  not  often  leave  the  cit)' ;  for  then,  as 
much  or  more  than  at  any  time,  did  his  people  need  him. 
His  diar}-,  July  9,  '54,  says  :  "The  heat  during  the  last 
weeks  has  been  intense.  On  Tuesday,  the  thennometer 
ranged  between  97°  and  100°  in  the  shade.  In  visiting  my 
people,  I  had  to  walk  about  six  miles  on  that  dav.  Last 
6 


82  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

week  I  attended  twelve  funerals,  five  in  one  day!"  During 
three  days  of  the  following  week,  he  officiated  at  eleven 
funerals,  and  during  one  week  of  a  hot  summer  he  was 
called  to  attend  seventeen.  When  there  was  an  epidemic 
of  spotted  fever  in  the  city,  he  wrote  :  ' '  Yesterday  I  buried 
in  the  Palmer  Street  Burying  Ground,  Kensington,  no  less 
than  five  persons  at  the  same  time,  and  had  their  five  cof- 
fins standing  before  me.  They  were  a  mother  and  a  child 
and  three  children  of  a  neighboring  family.  All  died  of 
spotted  fever.  To-morrow,  the  mother  of  the  tliree  children 
is  to  be  buried,  and  of  that  family  only  the  father  remains. 
What  is  life,  and  what  are  we  !"  Reviewing  his  work  at 
the  congregation,  he  says:  "In  one  year  I  attended  two 
hundred  and  sixty-six  funerals."  Cholera,  small-pox  and 
spotted  fever  patients,  he  saw  at  their  worst,  but  he  was 
never  stricken  by  any  of  these  diseases,  nor  did  his  family 
ever  suffer  from  his  fearless  contact  with  them. 

Sympathizing  and  devoted  in  his  pastoral  work,  poor  and 
well-to-do  looked  to  him  for  help  and  counsel.  In  their  joys, 
he  participated  as  a  friend,  and  in  distress,  they  could  not 
but  turn  to  him.  He  used  to  relate,  that  one  morning  he 
counted  the  number  of  times  he  was  disturbed  while  at 
literary  work  :  thirteen  times  in  two  hours  he  was  called 
from  his  desk. 

On  one  day,  his  diary  records,  that  he  christened  ten  chil- 
dren ;  and  once  on  Whitsuntide  Sunday  and  Monday,  no 
less  than  thirty-two. 

During  the  winter  of  '55,  he  writes  :  "The  times  are  dis- 
tressing. I  visit  much  among  the  sick  and  poor.  Thou- 
sands are  without  work  and  proper  food.  The  weather  is 
intensely  cold.  I  scarcely  know  how  to  meet  all  the  de- 
mands made  upon  me;  the  calls  for  help  are  more  numerous 
than  ever. " 

One  of  his  very  remarkable  pastoral  experiences  proved 
to  what  an  extent  his  people  learned  to  trust  in  his  benevo- 
lence and  judgment.      He  was  called  to  see  a  sick  parish- 


PASTORAL  WORK.  83 

ioner,  whose  wife  had  died  shortly  before.  The  pastor 
found  the  young  man  very  ill,  and  saw  there  was  little  hope 
that  his  life  could  be  prolonged."  "I  would  be  willing  to 
die,"  he  said,  "  if  I  knew  my  three  little  children  would  be 
cared  for.  I  have  no  better  friend  than  you.  Dr.  INIann,  and 
I  bequeath  them  to  you.  If  you  will  promise  to  care  for 
them,  I  can  die  in  peace  ! "  The  father  received  Dr.  Mann's 
assurance,  that  he  would  care  for  the  children.  So  to  all 
the  other  labors  were  added  these  of  making  arrangements 
for  the  future,  of  two  little  orphan  girls  and  a  boy,  left  with- 
out means.  Within  a  few  months,  homes  were  found  for 
them  in  Christian  families,  and  after  some  time,  each  became 
the  beloved  and  adopted  child  of  the  family  in  which  it  had 
been  placed.  Dr.  Mann  ever  took  a  deep  interest  in  the 
welfare  of  these  little  ones,  and  he  lived  to  see  them  all 
happy  and  useful  members  of  society. 

The  beginning  of  the  year  was  always  especially  full  of 
work,  because  the  instruction  of  the  catechumens  began 
with  the  first  week  of  January  and  lasted  until  the  confir- 
mation on  Palm  Sunday.  The  very  large  classes  were  di- 
vided ;  one  pastor  instructing  the  girls,  and  the  other, 
the  boys.  It  was  not  uncommon  to  have  one  hundred  and 
fifty  catechumens,  and  in  two  successive  years,  about  two 
hundred  members  were  added  to  the  church  on  Palm 
Sunday. 

The  instruction  of  so  many  young  people  in  the  princi- 
ples of  the  faith,  the  nurture  and  care  of  so  man}-  souls  was 
a  great  burden  upon  the  hearts  of  the  faithful  pastors  of  the 
congregation.  And  teaching  and  visiting  among  them  de- 
manded a  great  expenditure  of  time  and  strength.  The 
catechetical  instruction  was  given  by  the  pastors  from  eleven 
to  twelve  in  the  morning,  during  three,  and  often  four,  days 
in  the  week. 

Confirmation  took  place  on  Palm  Sunday  in  Zion  Church, 
one  pastor  preaching  and  the  other  confirming.  The  great 
building  was  full  to  overflowing:  on  these  solemn  occasions. 


84  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

On  Good  Friday,  tliere  were  always  between  seven  and  eight 
hundred  communicants,  and  on  Easter  Sunday,  between  five 
and  six  hundred.  On  tliese  festival  days,  the  pastor  who  offi- 
ciated at  the  morning  service  in  St.  Paul's  Church,  found  a 
carriage  waiting  to  take  him,  immediately  after  servdce,  to 
Zion  Church,  where  he  assisted  his  colleague  in  adminis- 
tering the  Holy  Communion. 

No  wonder  that  when  the  Easter  days  were  come,  there 
was  a  feeling  of  relief  and  gratitude  that  "the  hardest  days 
have  been  passed  without  breaking  down."  Several  se- 
vere attacks  of  illness  were,  however,  brought  on  by  over- 
work. But  patience  in  suffering  and  devoted  care  with  the 
help  of  God,  brought  restored  health  and  new  energy. 

In  July  and  August,  1853,  Mr.  Mann  was  very  ill.  Dr. 
Demme  was  in  Europe,  seeking  to  regain  his  health,  which 
had  been  failing  for  some  time.  In  this  emergency,  the 
Rev.  C.  G.  Guenther,  a  young  theologian  from  Wurtem- 
berg,  who  was  visiting  America,  came  to  the  aid  of  the 
congregation.  In  the  spring  of  that  year,  he  had  become 
acquainted  with  Mr.  Mann,  and  between  the  two  a  warm 
friendship  had  sprung  up.  Most  deeply  did  his  friend  ap- 
preciate Mr.  Guenther' s  readiness  to  change  his  plans,  to 
remain  in  America  during  the  summer  and  care  for  the  con- 
gregation, instead  of  going,  as  had  been  his  intention,  to 
Berlin  and  thence  to  his  home. 

In  the  following  year,  the  Rev.  Mr.  G.  A.  Reichert  re- 
signed as  pastor  of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  congregation, 
and  on  17th  of  April,  1854,  Mr.  Mann  was  unanimously 
elected  pastor.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Guenther  received  about 
the  same  time,  a  call  as  assistant  pastor,  but  having  shortly 
before  accepted  a  charge  in  his  native  Wurtemberg,  he 
felt  constrained  to  serve  the  church  there.  In  the  same 
year,  the  Rev.  G.  A.  Wenzel  received  and  accepted  a  call 
as  assistant  pastor  to  the  congregation. 

On  Sunday,  September  23,  1854,  Mr.  Mann's  installation 
took  place  in  the  historic  old  Zion  Church.     Dr.  Demme 


PASTORAL  WORK.  8$ 

officiated,  and  in  touching  words  expressed  to  the  congre- 
gation his  joy  at  being  able  to  present  to  them,  as  his  col- 
league, the  young  pastor  who,  for  four  years,  had  labored  so 
faithfully  in  their  midst ;  and  his  gratitude  to  God  for 
having  especially  qualified  and  fitted  him  for  work  among 
them. 

The  congregation  was  constantly  growing  ;  immigration 
was  strong  in  those  years  ;  particularly  in  the  northern  part 
of  the  city,  the  need  of  another  church  began  to  make  itself 
felt.  St.  Paul's  was  often  so  well  attended  at  the  Sunday 
services,  that  benches  were  placed  lengthwise  of  the  aisles 
to  accommodate  the  people. 

In  1853,  a  mission  had  been  established  in  Kensington, 
and  in  1855  the  corner-stone  of  St.  James  (St.  Jacobus)  was 
laid  at  Columbia  Avenue  and  New  Third  Street.  Mr. 
Mann  was  desirous,  that  the  new  congregation  should  be  an 
independent  organization  ;  and  he  labored  to  establish  this 
principle  as  a  precedent  for  future  guidance.  "Pecuniarily 
and  otherwise,"  he  writes,  "we  must  do  all  in  our  power 
to  aid  the  undertaking ;  but  it  is  far  better  that  the  new 
church  should  belong  to  the  new  congregation  and  have  its 
own  pastor. ' ' 

There  was  much  interest  in  the  undertaking  manifested 
in  the  whole  congregation,  and  the  Mother  Church  defrayed 
the  expenses  of  erecting  St.  James,  and,  for  five  years,  paid 
five-hundred  dollars  annually  toward  the  pastor's  and  four 
hundred,  toward  the  parochial  school -master's  salary  ;  and 
at  the  same  time  declared  :  "The  German  language  shall 
forever  be  the  language  in  which  divine  worship  is  to  be 
conducted ;  so  that  for  all  time,  emigrants  from  the  Father- 
land shall  find  in  the  land  of  their  adoption,  the  beautiful 
service  to  which  they  have  been  accustomed  ;  as,  when  they 
come  into  this  country,  they  are  generally  without  the 
means  to  build  and  support  churches." 

During  those  busy  years,  beside  his  labors  as  contributor 
to  the  Kirchen/reund^  and  afterwards  editor  of  it,  IVIr.  Mann 


86  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

was  always  engaged  in  some  other  literary  work.  He  wrote 
occasionally  for  the  Evangelical  Review ;  in  '52  and  '53,  cat- 
echetical and  liturgical  work  for  the  Ministerium  occupied 
him.  In  '55,  he  prepared  the  article  on  "Mormonism"  for 
Hertzog's  Encyclopedia.  In  1859,  for  an  album,  published 
by  Schaeffer  and  Koradi,  as  a  memorial  of  the  hundredth 
anniversary  of  Schiller's  birth,  he  prepared  an  analytical 
sketch  of  Schiller's  works,  that  surveyed  also  the  position 
of  the  poet  in  the  world  of  thought,  and  his  influence  upon 
the  German  nation  and  literature.  Six  sonnets  on  Schiller 
from  his  pen  also  appeared  in  the  memorial  album. 


CHAPTER  X. 

WORK  IN  THE  MINISTERIUM  OF  PENNSYLVANIA. 

AT  Allentown,  Pa.,  on  the  lyth.  of  June,  185 1,  Mr. 
]\Iann  was  received  as  a  member  of  the  Evangelical 
Lutheran  ]\Iinisterium  of  Pennsylvania  and  adjacent  States. 
His  personality  and  ability  were  soon  recognized  by  his 
brethren.  Even  in  the  first  }ear  of  his  connection  with 
the  Ministerium,  he  was  charged  with  the  preparation  of 
au  explanation  of  Luther's  Catechism,  afterwards  named 
from  its  publisher,  the  Benner  Catechism. 

A  more  extensive  exposition  of  Luther's  Small  Cate- 
chism, he  undertook  a  decade  later  in  connection  with  Rev. 
Dr.  G.  F.  Krotel,  who  in  1862  came  to  Philadelphia,  hav- 
ing accepted  the  call  to  St.  Mark's  Congregation.  Dr. 
Mann  was  happy  to  be  able  to  enjoy  his  companionship, 
and  together  during  that  winter,  they  wrote  the  explana- 
tion to  the  Catechism  in  questions  and  answers.  This  work, 
undertaken  at  the  request  of  the  Ministerium,  appeared  in 
1863.  "It  was  the  aim  of  the  explanation  to  render  Lu- 
ther's Small  Catechism,  peculiar  and  remarkable  for  its 
wealth  of  matter  and  condensed  form,  still  more  profitable 
for  practical  use."  In  the  instruction  of  catechetical 
classes,  in  Sunday  and  parochial  schools,  and  in  families, 
this  little  book  has  been  of  very  great  value. 

In  1853,  ^^^-  J^Iann  was  a  member  of  the  committee  ap- 
pointed to  revise  the  liturgy.  In  this  connection,  he  did 
the  principal  work  in  the  preparation  of  the  family  prayers 
and  those  for  private  devotion,  appended  to  the  Pennsylva- 
nia Liturgy  of  1855. 

87 


88  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

In  1853,  the  Ministerium  re-united  with  the  General 
Synod,  which  had  been  organized  in  1820  and  was  com- 
posed of  delegates  from  various  Lutheran  bodies,  and  at  the 
same  time  urged  other  Synods  to  do  so,  earnestly  hoping 
and  purposing  to  secure  greater  unity.  ' '  It  had  avowed 
its  purpose  to  maintain  unchanged  its  foundation  of  faith, 
and  hoped  in  the  union  to  secure  gradually  the  return  of 
the  whole  Lutheran  Church  to  a  closer  allegiance  to  the 
confessions."  In  May  of  that  year,  Mr.  Mann  attended 
the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod  at  Winchester,  Va. ,  as  a 
delegate  from  the  Ministerium.  Of  this  convention,  he 
wrote,  "The  General  Synod,  with  its  delegates,  debates, 
personalities  and  tendencies  offered  much  that  was  interest- 
ing. The  spirit  was  tolerant ;  but  there  is  a  great  deal  of 
indefiniteness  and  obscurity  about  distinctive  Lutheran  prin- 
ciples, with  a  perceptible  desire  for  unity.  The  Metho- 
distic  tendency  is  declining,  and  the  leaders  of  that  move- 
ment are  losing  influence. ' '  He  left,  ' '  not  without  great 
hopes  for  the  future  of  the  Lutheran  Church. ' ' 

There  was  during  those  years  even  in  the  Ministerium  of 
Pennsylvania,  notwithstanding  its  avowed  determination  to 
abide  by  ' '  its  foundation  of  faith, "  a  "  confusion  in  churchly 
tendencies,  in  ideas  and  theories  of  the  conception  of  the 
Church,  particularly  in  regard  to  the  confessions."  The 
want  of  higher  institutions  for  theological  training  was  to  a 
great  extent  responsible  for  this.  It  was  with  a  view  to 
supply  this  deficiency,  that  the  Ministerium  founded  a 
chair  of  theology  in  the  Seminary  at  Gettysburg. 

In  1854,  Mr.  Mann  was  nominated  by  the  Ministerium 
and  afterwards  unanimously  elected  by  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors of  Gettysburg  Seminary  as  Professor  of  Theology  and 
German  Literature  in  that  institution.  The  claims  of  the 
congregation,  however,  prevented  him  from  accepting  the 
chair,  which  was  ably  filled  by  the  late  Dr.  C.  F.  Schaeffer. 

In  1855,  at  the  meeting  of  the  General  Synod,  at  Dayton, 
Ohio,  Mr.    Mann  was  present  for  several  days  as  a  visitor. 


IN   THE   MINISTERIUM   OF   PENNSYLVANIA.  89 

Afterwards,  in  an  article  in  the  KircJieiifreiDid^  he  surveyed 
the  times  and  conditions  which  had  influenced  the  Lutheran 
Church  in  her  growth  and  development  in  America.  In  a 
spirit  of  just  appreciation  of  the  difficulties  and  disadvan- 
tages under  which  Lutheranism  had  labored  in  this  coun- 
try, he  explained  how  to  a  great  extent  it  had  lost 
much  of  what  was  most  distinctive  and  characteristic  in 
its  faith  and  fonii.  In  the  desire  to  gain  popularity,  he 
says:  "The  hard  dogmatical  knots  of  the  old  Lutheran 
oak  were  forced  to  give  way  under  the  Puritan  plane.  The 
body  was  deprived  of  its  bones  and  its  heart,  and  the  empty 
skin  was  filled  with  whatever  was  most  pleasing,  if  only 
the  Lutheran  name  was  retained  !' '  Lamentable  as  he  felt 
this  loss  of  a  precious  heritage  to  be,  he  thought  that  oth- 
ers, too,  though  differently  trained,  might  be  brought  to 
realize  it,  and  that  perhaps  a  time  had  come  when,  by  pa- 
tience and  forbearance,  a  union  upon  a  true  conservative 
Lutheran  basis  was  not  altogether  hopeless.  For  he  wrote: 
"Now^,  if  the  General  Synod  of  the  Lutheran  Church  un- 
derstood the  signs  of  the  times,  and,  not  resisting  the 
churchly  tendency,  but  raising  her  voice  in  a  truly  Lu- 
theran spirit,  would  hold  fast  her  Lutheran  confes- 
sions and  not  destroy  nor  ignore  the  characteristics  of 
Lutheranism,  it  would  wield  unspeakably  greater  moral 
weight,  and  could  become  a  centre  of  strong  and  far-reach- 
ing influence.  To  give  expression  to  certain  general 
Christian  principles,  may  be  sufficient  as  a  confession  of 
adherence  to  Christianity,  but  it  is  far  from  satisfactor}-, 
where  the  connection  with  a  distinct  historical  Church  is 
at  stake." 

But  the  hope,  that  all  who  bore  the  name  Lutheran 
would  rally  around  the  unalterable  confessional  standards, 
received  a  sad  blow  in  the  next  year.  Tliere  appeared  a 
small  anonymous  pamphlet,  under  the  title  of  the  "Definite 
Platform,"  purporting  to  be  a  recension  of  the  Augsburg 
Confession.     This   paper,    which    Dr.    S.    S.    Schmucker, 


90  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Prof,  of  Dogmatics  in  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the 
General  Synod  at  Gettysburg  afterwards  acknowledged  to 
have  written,  declared  that  the  Augsburg  Confession,  "al- 
though as  a  whole  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  Word  of 
God,  yet  contained  doctrinal  errors,  which  it  proceeded  to 
point  out.  It  declared  these  errors  so  glaring,  that  a  very 
large  portion  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church  of  this 
Country  regarded  their  existence  as  a  matter  of  fact,  not  to 
be  disputed ;  that  they  had  arranged  their  teaching  and 
preaching  in  their  congregations  accordingly,  and  that  they 
felt  themselves  conscientiously  bound  to  come  out  before 
the  Church  and  the  world  with  this  declaration. ' ' 

No  wonder  that  such  astonishing  and  "unlutheran" 
statements  "raised  a  storm  of  indignation  on  all  sides!" 
Many  who  before  had  not  realized  the  importance  of 
"holding  fast  the  Lutheran  Confessions"  began  to  see 
what  was  the  trend  of  "American  Lutheranism."  In  his 
loyalty  to  the  faith  of  the  Church  and  his  clear  insight  into 
the  character  of  the  views  advanced,  Mr.  Mann  exclaimed  : 
"Surely,  ye  are  the  men  to  teach  Magister  Philippus  and 
Doctor  Martinus,  and  to  give  us  a  new  revision  of  the 
Augsburg  Confession  and  a  reconstruction  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  based  upon  it !" 

In  February,  1856,  there  appeared  "A  Plea  for  the 
Augsburg  Confession  in  answer  to  the  objections  of  the 
Definite  Platform  :  an  address  to  all  ministers  and  laymen  of 
the  Evangelical  Church  of  the  United  States,  by  W.  J. 
Mann,  pastor  of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  Churches,  Phila- 
delphia." In  this  able  refutation  of  the  "Definite  Plat- 
form," Mr.  Mann  proved  the  unquestionable  authority  of 
the  Augsburg  Confession,  as  "the  primitive  standard  of 
the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Church,  the  most  renowned  doc- 
ument of  her  faith,  and  for  three  centuries  the  unexcept- 
ionable password  of  her  adherents." 

On  the  1 8th  of  September,  1856,  the  Trustees  of  the 
Pennsylvania  College,  Gettysburg,  conferred  upon  him  the 


IN   THE   MINISTERIUM   OF   PENNSYLVANIA.  9 1 

title  of  Doctor  of  Divinity.  Before  the  close  of  the  year,  he 
wrote  in  recognition  of  the  honor  an  essay  on  the  condition 
of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States,  entitled 
"Lutheranism  in  America."  Shortly  before,  Dr.  S.  S. 
Schmucker  had  published  the  "American  Lutheran 
Church."  "The  material  difference  between  the  two  ap- 
pears on  a  comparison  of  their  respective  titles."  "Lu- 
theranism  in  America"  clearly  sets  forth  the  confessional 
foundation  on  which  Luther  and  Melanchthon  built  in  the 
days  of  the  Reformation,  "that  time  of  an  outpouring  of 
the  Spirit,  of  grace,  of  knowledge,  of  light  and  of  power." 
The  precious  heritage  of  doctrine  embodying  the  saving 
truths  of  the  Word  of  God,  Dr.  Mann  therein  declared  to 
constitute  the  peculiar  and  distinctive  character  of  the  Lu- 
theran Church,  and  he  forcibly  sets  forth,  that  without  a 
firm  and  unwavering  adherence  to  the  confessions,  as  laid 
down  in  the  Symbolical  Books,  there  is  no  true  Lutheran- 
ism,  however  this  name  may  be  misapplied. 

In  the  expression  of  these  views.  Dr.  Mann  stated  what, 
for  the  great  majority  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania, 
was  the  rule  of  faith  and  of  life.  Within  the  }'ears  imme- 
diately succeeding  these  developments  in  the  church,  the 
confessional  position  of  the  Ministerium  became  more  and 
more  definitely  outlined.  The  subject  was  discussed  in 
Synodical  sessions  and  in  print.  The  connection  with  the 
General  Synod,  nevertheless,  continued  for  some  years 
longer.  After  the  meeting  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  in  1859, 
which  Dr.  Mann  attended  as  a  delegate,  he  wrote  :  "In  the 
General  Synod  there  was  apparently  much  willingness  to 
concede,  but  there  were  no  concessions.  I  did  not  leave 
with  very  hopeful  feelings."  In  1864,  the  delegates  of  the 
Ministerium  withdrew  from  the  session  of  the  General  Sy- 
nod, and,  two  years  afterwards,  the  ]\Iinisterium  was  de- 
clared to  be  "out  of  practical  relations"  with  that  body. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  IMinisterium  at  Lancaster,  Pa.,  in  the 
spring  of  1866,  the  question  of  organizing  a  new  general 


92  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

body  or  council  of  IvUtheran  Synods,  upon  a  strictly  conser- 
vative Lutheran  basis,  was  agitated.  In  the  preliminary 
discussions.  Dr.  Mann  urged  the  Synod  to  proceed  very 
slowly  in  carrying  out  their  design.  He  had  studied  the 
situation  and  the  theological  position  of  the  different  Sy- 
nods so  thoroughly,  that  he  was  persuaded  that  the  time  had 
not  yet  come  for  a  general  union  of  Synods  on  a  conserva- 
tive basis.  He  thought  it  would  be  best  for  the  Mother 
Synod  to  stand  alone  for  some  years,  in  order  that  it  might 
be  more  thoroughly  consolidated,  in  the  promotion  of  unity 
of  spirit  and  practice.  In  the  meantime,  he  proposed  that 
correspondence  with  other  bodies  be  carried  on,  until  it 
should  aj)pear  that  there  was  sufficient  agreement  to  war- 
rant the  organization  of  a  general  body. 

But  when  the  Synod,  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  de- 
termined to  take  immediate  steps  looking  to  such  a  union, 
he  not  only  yielded  to  the  wishes  of  his  brethren,  but  con- 
sented to  serve  on  the  committee  that  issued  the  ' '  Fraternal 
Address,"  August  lo,  1866,  which  led  to  the  famous  Read- 
ing Convention,  December  12,  1866.  He  took  an  active 
part  in  that  memorable  meeting,  and  was  appointed  a 
member  of  the  committee  to  draft  a  constitution  for  the  new 
body,  which  was  to  be  called  ' '  The  General  Council. ' ' 

He  attended  the  first  convention  and  helped  to  organize 
the  General  Council  at  Fort  Wayne,  Ind.,  November,  1867. 
He  was  nominated  by  the  delegation  of  the  Ministerium  of 
Pennsylvania  to  represent  that  body  in  the  German  Hymn 
Book  Committee,  thereby  becoming  its  chairman.  As  such, 
he  presented  a  report  at  the  same  convention,  suggesting 
certain  rules  that  should  govern  the  committee  in  the  pre- 
paration of  the  hymn-book,  as  well  as  the  names  of  the  sub- 
committee to  be  charged  with  this  work. 

Immediately  after  the  presentation  of  this  report,  the 
Minutes  of  the  General  Council  state  that  that  body,  "on 
motion,  excused  the  delegation  of  the  Pennsylvania  Sy- 
nod from  appointing  a  representative  upon  the   German 


IN   THE   MINISTERIUM   OF   PENNSYLVAXIA.  93 

Hymn  Book  Commiticc.  The  other  iiienibcrs  of  the  com- 
mittee continued. 

The  delegation  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania  was 
moved  to  make  this  request,  because  that  Synod  had  pub- 
lished the  hymn-book  of  1849,  the  so-called  "Wollen- 
weber"  hymn  book,  and  held  the  copyright,  and  it  was 
deemed  best  that  it  should  not  actively  participate  in  the 
preparation  of  a  new  book. 

In  the  report  alluded  to  above,  Dr.  Mann,  on  the  part  of 
the  committee,  had  also  recommended  "that  the  liturgical 
service  in  the  Gennan  hymn-book  be  made  to  conform  to 
that  of  the  English  Church  Book." 

Many  regretted  that  by  this  action  the  German  Church 
Book  Committee,  as  well  as  the  General  Council,  were  de- 
prived of  the  valuable  services  of  Dr.  ]\Iann,  whose  knowl- 
edge and  taste  in  this  department  were  generally  recog- 
nized. 

When  the  Kirchenbiich  finally  appeared,  with  approval 
of  the  General  Council,  Dr.  Mann,  with  many  others, 
while  fully  recognizing  its  merits,  nevertheless  found  some 
things  in  it,  with  which  he  was  not  in  sympathy.  He 
especially  deprecated  changes  which  had  been  made  in  the 
wording  of  some  of  the  hymns,  in  which  the  archaic  forms 
had  been  revived.  Coming  as  he  did  from  a  country  where 
the  liturgy'  used  was  very  simple,  it  was  reasonable  to  ex- 
pect that  he  would  be  one  of  the  last  to  become  an  enthusiast 
in  regard  to  liturgical  services. 

As  his  congregation  as  well  as  some  others  were  attached 
to  the  old  hymn-book  and  order  of  service,  and  his  own 
views  and  feelings  accorded  with  those  of  the  people,  he 
preferred  to  retain  both,  and  frankly  maintained  his  position 
in  the  presence  of  his  brethren  at  the  Synod  ;  and  also  con- 
tended successfully  for  the  right  of  such  congregations  as 
preferred  it,  to  use  the  hymn-book  of  1849. 

Although  Dr.  Mann  was  regularly  elected  to  represent 
his  S\nod  in  the  successive  conventions  of  the  General 


94  MEMOIR   OF  WII.LIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Council,  he  attended  only  those  at  Fort  Wayne,  1867  ; 
Philadelphia,  1877;  New  York,  1883;  Philadelphia,  1885; 
and  Minneapolis  in  1888.  His  rare  attendance  was  not 
owing  to  any  want  of  interest  in  the  General  Council,  but 
to  a  variety  of  circumstances,  such  as  pressing  engagements 
in  his  pastoral  and  professional  work,  and  sometimes  also  to 
his  want  of  sympathy  with  some  of  the  controversies  that 
agitated  that  body.  Although  a  staunch  and  earnest  de- 
fender of  sound  L/Utheran  doctrine,  and  of  a  churchly  prac- 
tice in  harmony  therewith,  he  deprecated  the  manner  in 
which  some  questions  were  discussed. 

In  i860  Dr.  Mann  was  elected  President  of  the  Ministe- 
rium  of  Pennsylvania,  and  this  office  he  filled  also  in  the 
two  succeeding  years. 

As  a  speaker  on  the  floor  of  Synod  he  was  clear,  concise 
and  logical.  He  spoke  to  the  point,  and  was  noted  for 
' '  hitting  the  nail  upon  the  head. ' '  Many  times,  with  his 
ability  to  see  and  sympathize  with  the  difficulties  that  beset 
others,  he  was  able  to  pour  oil  upon  troubled  waters  and 
prevent  the  clash  of  opposing  opinions.  Where  a  question 
of  principle  was  not  involved  he  often  suggested  a  happy 
compromise.  His  ready  wit  often  "brought  down  the 
house, ' '  and  in  many  a  dull  session  or  long  and  tiring  dis- 
cussion he  put  everybody  into  a  good  humor  by  some  happy 
remark  which  often,  at  the  same  time,  helped  to  solve  the 
difficult  question. 

After  the  sessions  of  the  Ministerium  his  diary  often  says : 
"  I  experienced  much  kindness  from  many  friends  during 
the  meeting  of  Synod,  and  greatly  enjoyed  the  intercourse 
with  the  brethren. ' ' 


CHAPTER  XI. 

HOME  LIFE.    JOURNEYS  IN  '55  AND  '62. 

DR.  MANN  carried  on  an  extensive  correspondence  with 
his  parents  and  brothers,  and  with  a  large  circle  of 
friends  in  Germany  and  America.  He  was  always  in  touch 
with  the  home  in  Stuttgart,  and  the  letters  he  sent  monthly 
to  his  parents  acquainted  them  with  his  home,  and  his  life 
and  work  here.  He  could  not  but  at  times  be  sad,  because 
his  life-work  separated  him  from  those  distant  dear  ones. 

In  1856  his  health  had  suffered  from  his  continued  exer- 
tions, and  he  was  urged  to  rest  and  visit  his  home.  In  the 
spring  of  '57  his  parents'  letters  were  full  of  the  hope  of 
seeing  him,  and  he  would  not  have  disappointed  them 
could  he  possibly  have  left  his  post.  Dr.  Demme,  however, 
was  not  able  to  endure  hard  work  any  "more  ;  he  had  not 
been  much  benefited  by  his  trip  to  Europe  in  '53,  and  in 
the  summer  time  in  these  years  he  was  scarcely  able  to 
preach,  and  Dr.  Mann  felt  that  he  could  not  leave  the  whole 
burden  of  care  upon  Mr.  Wenzel. 

In  December,  1857,  he  received  the  tidings  of  the  sudden 
death  of  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Rudolph  Mann.  He  was  a 
man  of  great  mental  vigor  and  brilliant  attainments,  and  as 
the  eldest,  he  had  exercised  a  strong  influence  upon  all  his 
brothers.  His  death  in  the  prime  of  life  was  a  sad  blow  to 
the  aged  parents,  with  whom  their  far-distant  son  deeply 
mourned  this  loss.  To  his  parents  and  bereaved  sister-in- 
law.  Dr.  ISIann  sent  a  memorial  in  manuscript  of  the  life 
and  character  of  his  beloved  brother. 

In   the   followings  spring   he   again   mourned   with   his 

95 


96  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

distant  loved  ones.  His  father's  life  closed  on  the  i8th  of 
May,  1858,  at  the  venerable  age  of  eighty  years  and  four 
months.  He  had  borne  the  burden  of  his  years  with  re- 
markable vigor,  and  was  called  home  after  only  two  days' 
illness.  "It  is  a  beautiful  and  an  exalted  picture,"  says 
the  diary,  ' '  that  remains  to  me  of  my  father.  He  was  a 
man  of  pure  and  noble  heart,  sanctified  by  a  lively  personal 
experience  of  the  power  of  the  gospel.  Living  in  and  for 
the  dear  ones  God  had  given  him,  happy  in  their  love  and 
the  esteem  of  many  friends,  he  found  joy  and  comfort  in 
the  gospel  and  the  work  of  God's  kingdom.  The  Lord 
has  made  it  well  with  him  !  " 

In  Dr.  Mann's  family  there  were  at  this  time  all  phases  of 
the  happy  development  of  child-life.  Three  little  girls  and 
a  boy  made  the  house  merry  and  added  to  the  cares  and  joys 
of  their  parents.  The  dear  mother's  companionship  and 
wise  loving  guidance  was  looked  upon  by  the  selfish  little 
people  as  their  natural  and  just  right  and  a  matter  of  course, 
but  when  it  was  announced  that  papa  had  an  hour  to  spare 
a  shout  went  up  from  the  nursery  and  all  rushed  to  welcome 
him. 

What  delightful  times  they  were  when  he  played  at 
"hide  and  seek"  with  them  all  over  the  house  !  How  he 
enjoyed  their  searching  for  him  on  tiptoe,  and  the  general 
scramble  when  he  emerged  from  some  unexpected  quarter! 
Blocks,  the  counterpart  of  those  he  played  with  when  a 
boy,  were  made  for  the  children,  and  he  taught  them  to 
build  high  towers  that  were  the  w^onder  and  admiration  of 
their  little  visitors.  And  then  he  told  his  little  crowd  of 
listeners  about  the  great  cathedrals  of  the  Old  World.  And 
when  they  tired  of  the  block  towers,  he  was  the  merriest  of 
the  party  if,  by  a  careful  dislodgementof  the  foundations,  a 
last  gentle  stroke  brought  the  whole  structure  down  with  a 
crash.  Innumerable  pictures  he  drew  for  the  little  com- 
pany, and  early  he  sought  to  awaken  their  ideas  of  the 
beautiful.     To  the  "square"  or  the  park  he  delighted  to 


HOMK  LIFE. 


97 


take  them,  and  he  entertained  them  with  descriptions  of  the 
lovely  hills  aronnd  Stuttgart,  and  the  walks  and  views  he 
would  like  to  show  them  there. 

Christmas  was  the  time  of  special  rejoicing  for  the  chil- 
dren. Everything  was  done  to  make  it  a  holy,  happy  fes- 
tival. Early  on  Christmas  morning,  a  colored  transparency 
of  the  Christ  Child  and  the  manger,  with  Mary  and  Joseph 
and  the  adoring  shepherds,  was  illumined  in  the  nursery. 
The  children's  eyes  opened  wide  with  wonder  when,  on  first 
awakening,  they  saw  the  beautiful  picture,  and  lovingly 
their  father  explained  to  the  little  listeners  the  wonderful 
and  ever  new  stoiy.  He  even  found  time  to  help  trim  the 
Christmas  tree  and  light  its  many  tapers.  No  one  but  papa 
and  mamma  ever  saw  it  come  into  the  house,  and  no  one  was 
sure  whether  there  would  be  a  tree,  until  it  burst  in  all  its 
illumined  splendor  on  the  wondering  eyes.  It  was  a  happy 
company  that  assembled  about  it,  the  larger  circle  of  the 
family,  the  beloved  grandparents  and  other  dear  relatives, 
all  uniting  in  the  merriment.  The  children  repeated  and 
sang  some  of  the  beautiful  German  Christmas  hymns, 
which  so  sweetly  tell  of  the  Christ  Child,  the  source  of  all 
the  love  and  the  gifts. 

Busy  as  their  father  was  his  children  were  always  sure  of 
his  interest  and  sympathy  in  the  little  affairs  of  their 
world.  He  knew  all  about  the  family  of  dolls,  and  he  often, 
himself,  painted  the  paper  dolls.  When,  bye  and  bye,  they 
went  to  school  he  always  knew  what  progress  they  were 
making,  and  he  liked  to  hear  all  about  the  day's  proceed- 
ings. How  often,  when  they  were  in  the  nursery,  he 
walked  from  his  study  to  say  :  "Kinder,  Deutsch  !"  only 
they  remember,  and  the  untiring  efforts  of  their  parents 
bore  fruit  in  this  direction,  at  least. 

Among  their  happiest  recollections   are   the   hours  he 
spent  showing  them  the  wonders  which  the  microscope  re- 
veals.     There  were  always  new  things  found  for  examina- 
tion :  the  exquisite  snow-crystals,  leaves,  feathers  and  in- 
7 


98  MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

sects  were  in  turn  duly  admired.  ' '  Under  the  microscope, ' ' 
lie  used  to  say,  "God's  works  always  reveal  greater  and 
more  intricate  beauty  ;  but  man's  show  themselves  coarse 
and  rough.  The  film  of  the  butterfly's  wing,  under  the 
strongest  lens,  is  perfect  in  its  delicate  structure,  but  the 
finest  polish  of  silver  or  gold  reveals  scratches  when 
minutely  examined." 

When  he  moved  to  Fifth  Street,  Dr.  Mann  built  an  ob- 
servatory on  his  house,  for  he  always  enjoyed  the  feeling  of 
freedom  and  command  an  elevation  offers,  and  many  a 
quiet  hour  in  the  early  morning  did  he  spend  there  book  in 
hand.  The  whole  family  found  the  observatory  a  favorite 
resort.  The  display  of  rockets  and  Roman  candles  rising 
from  all  sections  of  the  city  on  the  Fourth  of  July  especially 
delighted  the  children  and  their  little  friends.  The  beau- 
ties of  the  sunset-sky  were  often  enjoyed  there,  and  occa- 
sionally, too,  the  glories  of  the  Aurora  Borealis.  To  ob- 
serve an  especially  fine  one.  Dr.  Mann  remained  up  nearly 
all  night,  and  exclaims  after  the  description  of  it  in  the 
diary,  "  One  might  live  to  grow  old  and  never  see  such  a 
magnificent  display  in  the  heavens  !"  In  the  observatory, 
too,  his  telescope  was  adjusted  and  it  was  his  pleasure  to 
examine  the  moon  and  stars,  and  give  his  children  lessons 
in  astronomy.  Years  before,  by  means  of  glass  balls  of  dif- 
ferent sizes,  and  imaginary  orbits  on  the  nursery  floor,  he 
had  sought  to  give  them  some  idea  of  the  position  of  the 
sun  and  earth,  and  the  causes  of  solar  and  lunar  eclipses. 

Some  of  the  most  beautiful  of  his  pen  and  ink  sketches, 
pencil  and  India  ink  drawings  were  made  in  these  years.  He 
never  traveled  without  a  drawing  block  at  hand.  He  wrote, 
when  away  from  home,  always  once  and  sometimes  twice  a 
day  to  his  wife,  and  often  sent  the  children  a  succession  of 
funny  sketches,  with  accompanying  explanations  of  hu- 
morous incidents  that  happened  on  his  journey.  Some- 
times he  sent  long  letters  in  rhvme  that  delighted  his  little 
folks,  who  highly  estimated  these  wonderful  missives. 


HOME   UFE.  99 

Music  was  a  frequent  source  of  recreation  and  refresh- 
ment to  Dr.  Mann.  Even  in  his  busiest  years,  scarcely  a 
day  passed  that  he  did  not  play,  if  it  were  only  during  the 
few  minutes  that  he  waited  for  an  appointed  carriage  or  the 
announcement  of  dinner.  As  he  extemporized  with  ease, 
he  was  independent  of  the  notes,  and  if  no  other  time,  the 
twilight  found  him  at  his  beloved  piano. 

After  attending  the  meeting  of  the  General  vSynod,  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  in  June,  1855,  he  extended  his  journey  to 
Cincinnati,  Chicago,  iVnn  Arbor  and  Niagara  Falls.  He 
returned  to  Philadelphia  with  many  delightful  recollections 
of  the  trip.  In  Ann  Arbor,  he  visited  his  only  relatives  in 
this  country,  the  family  of  Mr.  Jonathan  Henry  Mann,  his 
father's  cousin. 

In  the  summer  of  '62,  with  Dr.  G.  F.  Krotel  and  three 
other  friends,  Dr.  ]\Iann  took  a  journey  to  the  shores  of 
Lake  Superior.  The  following  extract  from  a  letter  to 
his  wife  outlines  the  route  taken  : 

Sts.  of  Mackinaw,  July  25,  1862. 

"Two  days  ago,  I  sent  you  a  letter  from  Cleveland,  and  another  yester- 
day from  Detroit,  where  we  spent  the  da5^  In  the  evening,  we  left  in 
the  steamer  'Illinois,'  passed  up  the  Detroit  River  into  Lake  St.  Clair, 
and  up  the  St.  Clair  River  into  Lake  Huron,  an  immense  sheet  of  water, 
on  which  we  have  been  navigating  all  day,  and  on  which,  for  hours,  we 
were  entirely  out  of  sight  of  land. 

"  Now  we  are  in  the  Straits  of  Mackinaw,  where  we  shall  lie  by  for  an 
hour,  and  where  we  hope  also,  to  get  our  mail  into  the  post-office.  Then 
we  proceed,  thiiough  the  strait  and  rapids  of  St.  Mary,  to  Lake  Superior, 
and  pass  along  its  southern  shore  to  Marquette,  which  will  probably  be 
the  turning  point  of  our  trip.  We  cannot  yet  say,  how  we  shall  proceed 
then,  perhaps  overland  to  Green  Bay,  and  then  to  Milwaukee. 

"  Our  vessel  is  crowded  ;  there  are  no  less  than  three  hundred  people 
on  board.  The  weather  is  fine,  but  the  breeze  so  decidedly  cold,  that  we 
never  get  thoroughly  warm,  like  in  good  old  Philadelphia  ;  though  I  am 
quite  sun-burnt  by  direct  action  of  the  sun-beams. 

"  There  is  much  conversation  going  on  among  our  party,  and  also  a 
good  deal  of  fun,  here  and  there  interspersed  with  more  .serious  moments 
and  emotions.  We  five  companions  were  just  now  looking  at  a  glorious 
sunset,  and  singing  Old  Hundred. 


lOO  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"  Show  tlie  children  the  map  of  Michigan,  or  they  will  never  under- 
stand my  course.    You  will  also  see  then  in  what  latitude  we  are. "  .  .  .  . 

In  another  letter,  he  described  Marquette,  and  the  south- 
ern shore  of  Lake  Superior  as  one  of  the  ' '  most  beautiful 
spots  under  the  sun"  and  continued,  "  for  sixty-three  miles 
we  traveled  while  going  from  Marquette  to  Green  Bay 
through  the  primeval  forest  in  all  its  virgin  beauty,  and  for 
a  distance  of  twenty-eight  miles,  we  did  not  meet  a  single 
human  being.  There  were  frequently  tracks  of  bears, 
v/olves  and  deer  :  but  not  even  Indians  appeared  during  this 
stretch ,  though  we  saw  many  of  them  at  other  places  along  our 
route."  It  was  a  most  interesting  and  delightful  trip,  and  he 
returned  with  new  impressions  of  the  great  extent  and  re- 
sources of  the  land. 

At  home  again,  work  at  once  absorbed  his  time  and  as 
the  close  of  the  year  is  nearing,  he  writes  :  ' '  My  labors  at 
this  moment  are  considerable.  Congregational  duties,  com- 
mittee meetings,  instruction  to  the  children  and  to  two  the- 
ological students,  the  new  edition  of  the  German  Bible,  ar- 
ticles for  the  Zeitschrift  and  occasionally  for  the  Lutheran 
and  Alissionary  keep  me  occupied. ' ' 


CHAPTER  XII. 

PASTORAL  WORK.     iS6o-'68. 

AFTER  1859,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Demme,  the  senior  pastor 
of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  Congregation,  was  no 
longer  able  to  take  an  active  part  in  the  work  of  the  church. 
Dr.  ]\Iann  and  the  Rev.  Mr.  Wenzel  shared  the  labors  of 
the  charge.  There  was  no  cessation  of  pastoral  care,  Dr. 
Mann  left  the  city  in  the  summer  only  when  his  own  health 
imperatively  demanded  it.  At  most,  in  other  years,  he 
went  a  day  to  the  sea-shore  to  bring  his  family  home. 

In  the  autumn  of '60,  he  delivered  a  lecture  on  "Luther 
and  his  times"  in  the  church  of  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Benja- 
min W.  Schmauk  at  Lancaster,  for  the  benefit  of  that  con- 
gregation. On  Thanksgiving  evening  of  the  same  year,  he 
lectured  for  St.  James' on  the  "Thirty  Years  War."  For 
the  same  congregation  he  had  before  delivered  a  lecture  to 
a  crowded  church  on  "Luther,"  and  during  these  years  for 
their  benefit  also  one  on  "Philip  IL  of  Spain."  For  the 
Orphans'  Home,  he  lectured  in  Zion  Church  to  an  audi- 
ence of  more  than  two  thousand  people,  on  the  "Wonders 
of  the  Heavens. ' ' 

He  always  drew  large  audiences.  He  spoke  with  vigor, 
originality  and  fluency.  He  enjoyed  lecturing.  Thor- 
oughly prepared,  he  used  neither  manuscript  nor  notes  but 
depended,  as  he  said,  "upon  God  and  his  memory;"  and 
often  spoke  from  an  hour-and-a-half  to  two  hours  without 
hesitating  for  a  word  or  pausing  for  a  thought.  The  gift 
of  ready  speech  was  his,  and  his  popular  orator}^  held  his 
hearers  spell-bound  from  first  to  last.  He  always  presented 
subjects  of  gravity  and  imparted  much  information  ;   but 


I02  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

many  an  unexpected  transition  or  humorous  way  of  putting 
tilings  caused  a  smile  or  a  suppressed  laugh  to  ripple  over 
the  audience. 

On  September  ist,  1863,  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  R.  Demme,  for 
forty-one  years  the  much-beloved  and  highly-honored  pas- 
tor of  the  congregation  was  called  home,  after  some  years 
of  great  debility  and  suffering.  Dr.  Mann  had  been  his  as- 
sistant pastor  for  four  years  and  for  five  thereafter,  his  col- 
league. On  the  day  of  Dr.  Demme' s  death,  he  wrote  : 
'  'At  a  quarter  before  six  o'  clock  this  morning,  my  old  friend 
and  colleague.  Rev,  Dr.  Demme,  died  after  weary  years  of 
physical  and  mental  exhaustion.  I  saw  him  on  Sunday 
and  yesterday  ;  but  he  was  not  conscious.  Now,  all  is  well 
with  him !  A  man  of  uncommon  parts  is  gone ;  among 
all  whom  I  have  ever  met,  there  was  none  so  perfectly 
qualified  by  strength  of  character  to  be  a  great  leader  of 
men.  As  an  orator,  he  had  indeed  few  equals.  Depth  of 
feeling,  force  of  will,  clearness  of  reasoning,  and  moral 
earnestness  gave  power  to  his  preaching.  His  hearers  were 
as  much  under  his  control  as  his  voice."  On  the  3rd 
of  September,  amid  an  immense  concourse  of  people,  the 
funeral  services  took  place  in  Zion  Church,  which  was 
heavily  draped  with  the  emblems  of  mourning.  Dr.  Mann 
preached  the  faneral  oration  on  the  text :  "By  faith  he 
being  dead  yet  speaketh. ' ' 

In  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  congregation,  the  feeling  was 
gradually  awakening  that  the  congregation  was  becoming 
too  large  and  cumbersome  ;  that  it  would  be  more  practical 
and  satisfactory  to  form  separately  organized  churches  in 
various  parts  of  the  city  ;  that  even  St.  Paul's  should  become 
an  independent  congregation,  separate  from  the  Mother 
Church.  But  it  took  a  long  time  before  these  projects  could 
eventually  be  carried  out.  There  were  many  difficulties  in 
the  way,  and  some  of  the  older  members  looked  with  much 
mistrust  upon  these  radical  ideas.  Dr.  Mann  felt  that  time 
would  bring  about  the  desirable  change ;  but  with  much 


PASTORAL   WORK,  IO3 

wisdom  and  great  patience  he  avoided  sudden  transitions, 
and  everything  that  might  cause  dissension.  However, 
when  occasion  offered,  he  sought  to  direct  tlie  trend  of  af- 
fairs so  that  eventually  the  change  could  be  accomplished. 

The  vestr>'  had  control  of  the  secular  interests  of  the 
church,  and  the  disposition  of  the  monies,  which  were  con- 
siderable ;  and  they  sometimes  carried  their  measures  with- 
out sufficiently  consulting  the  wishes  of  the  majority  of  the 
people. 

Toward  the  close  of  the  year  1863,  there  was  some  agita- 
tion before  the  election  of  officers;  and  when  several 
younger  men,  representing  the  party  inclined  to  make 
changes  in  the  long  established  methods,  had  been  elected 
as  vestr}'men  by  the  congregation,  the  Rev.  Mr.  W'enzel 
refused  to  install  one  of  their  number.  He  announced  this 
in  Zion  Church  where  he  officiated  on  that  Sunday,  and  as 
a  consequence  none  of  the  newly -elected  members  pre- 
sented themselves  before  the  altar  for  installation.  They 
left  the  Church,  and  went  directly  to  St.  Paul's,  which  they 
reached  before  the  close  of  Dr.  Mann's  sermon. 

It  was  necessary  that  the  officers  should  be  installed,  so 
that  the  existence  of  the  corporation  or  governing  body  in 
the  congregation  would  continue,  according  to  the  require- 
ments of  the  charter.  After  the  sermon,  a  member  of  the 
vestry  quietly  informed  Dr.  Mann  of  the  facts.  He  re- 
quested the  newly  elected  vestrymen  to  appear  before  the 
altar,  and  thereupon  performed  the  act  of  installation. 

In  consequence  of  these  occurrences,  Rev.  JNIr.  Wenzel 
resigned  in  January,  '64,  and  in  a  congregational  meeting 
called  to  discuss  these  affairs,  his  resignation  was  accepted 
by  a  large  majority  and  Dr.  Mann's  action  was  almost  una- 
nimously approved. 

Though  the  friends  of  Mr,  Wenzel  carried  the  matter 
into  court,  and  sought  to  annul  the  Januar>'  election,  and 
though  they  caused  Dr.  Mann  much  trouble  and  distress 
because  he  so  deeply  lamented  the  absence  of  peace  among 


104  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM    JULIUS   MANN. 

the  people ,  yet  no  enduring  harm  was  done.  Dr.  Mann  per- 
suaded the  newly  elected  officers  to  resign  ;  this  they  did, 
and  in  a  special  congregational  meeting,  the  same  men 
were  re-elected  by  an  overwhelming  majority.  In  after 
years,  the  few  who  had  misunderstood  and  mistrusted  their 
pastor  completely  changed  their  views,  and  were  among  his 
most  ardent  friends  and  devoted  members. 

After  Mr.  Wenzel  resigned,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Reichert,  the 
former  pastor  of  the  congregation,  kindly  came  to  Dr. 
Mann's  assistance.  From  May  until  August,  1864,  he  re- 
mained in  Philadelphia,  and  Dr.  Mann  after  his  departure 
wrote,  '  'he  left  us  to-day  with  the  blessings  of  the  congre- 
gation and  its  pastor."  In  the  spring  of  this  year,  a  call 
had  been  extended  to  the  Rev.  Adolph  Spaeth  of  Esslin- 
gen,  Wurtemberg.  The  young  clergyman  had  followed 
this  call  to  the  New  World  and  arrived  in  Philadelphia  to- 
ward the  end  of  July  of  that  year.  Dr.  Mann  was  happy  to 
welcome  him,  and  to  find  him  a  colleague  well  qualified  for 
the  office. 

With  the  advancing  years,  the  number  of  German  Lu- 
therans in  Philadelphia  was  increasing.  The  churches  be- 
longing to  the  congregation  were  no  longer  large  enough  to 
accommodate  the  people,  and  it  was  decided  to  build  a 
church  in  Southwark  and  one  in  the  northwestern  part  of 
the  city.  As  early  as  1859,  ^  school-house,  which  was  used 
also  for  services  on  Sunday  had  been  bought  at  Sixth  and 
Carpenter  streets.  In  1862,  a  parochial  and  Sunday  school 
was  organized  in  the  vicinity  of  Broad  and  Brown.  Each 
of  these  was  the  nucleus  of  a  new  congregation ;  and  the 
question  was,  if  they  were  to  be  separate  organizations,  to 
what  extent  would  the  Mother  Church  endow  her  daugh- 
ters? 

The  division  of  the  church  monies  was  a  difficulty  not 
easily  solved.  In  the  long  years,  a  considerable  amount  of 
property  had  been  purchased  and  this  had  risen  in  value. 
Old  St.  Michael's  at  Fifth  and  Cherry  was  surrounded  by  a 


PASTORAL  WORK.  IO5 

cemeten',  the  first  owned  by  the  congregation.  In  1759, 
the  lots  on  Fifth  street  from  Cherry  to  Race,  had  been  pur- 
chased to  supplement  the  original  burying  ground.  These 
properties  were  not  used  for  interments  after  1782,  and  in 
1776,  the  land  between  Franklin  and  Eighth,  and  Race  and 
Vine  streets,  was  procured  for  this  purpose.  It  was,  of 
course,  at  that  time,  well  out  of  town.  The  N.  E.  corner 
of  Fourth  and  Cherr>'  streets,  opposite  Zion  Church,  and 
the  parsonage  and  house  next  to  it  on  the  south,  were  also 
owned  by  the  congregation.  St.  Paul's  Church  and  St. 
James'  (Jacobus)  had  been  built  and  the  time  had  come  to 
utilize  more  of  the  capital  in  this  way. 

This  division  of  the  congregation  and  its  property  was 
the  most  significant  event  in  the  century  and  a  half  of  its 
existence,  and  was  finally  brought  to  a  happy  and  beneficent 
issue  under  Dr.  Mann's  pastorate,  in  the  peaceable  estab- 
lishment of  five  separately  organized  congregations,  not- 
withstanding the  troublesome  opposition  of  some  conser\^a- 
tive  members,  who  thought  the  new  measures  would  ruin 
their  beloved  church.  In  1865,  he  laid  the  comer  stone  of 
St.  Johannes,  at  Fifteenth  and  Ogden  streets,  and  a  few 
years  later,  that  of  Emanuel's  Church  at  Fourth  and  Carpen- 
ter streets.  Both  congregations  were  outgrowths  of  the 
Mother  Church,  and  each  received  about  ;$4o,ooo,  to  aid  in 
defraying  the  cost  of  building  its  house  of  worship.  In 
both  these  churches.  Dr.  IMann  preached  the  dedication 
sermons. 

Earl}'  in  1867,  St.  Johannes  Church  gave  the  Rev.  A. 
Spaeth  an  urgent  call  to  become  its  pastor.  Dr.  Mann 
most  deeply  regretted  Mr.  Spaeth's  acceptance  of  the  call 
in  IMarch  of  the  same  year  and  keenly  felt  the  loss  of  the 
colleague  with  whom  he  had  labored  in  perfect  harmony 
during  the  three  preceding  years. 

During  the  following  summer,  which  he  spent  in  Eu- 
rope, Dr.  jNIann  sought  to  find  a  young  pastor  to  fill  the 
vacancy. 


I06  MEMOIR   OF  WII.LIAM  JUUUS   MANN. 

He  had  two  especially  in  view,  and  after  hearing  them 
preach  and  conversing  with  them  on  the  needs  of  his  con- 
gregation, he  felt  that  either  of  them  would  be  most  accept- 
able. But,  though  both  expressed  their  willingness  to  come 
to  the  New  World,  neither  could  obtain  the  consent  of  his 
family  to  this  step.  Weeks  passed  before  these  decisions 
were  arrived  at  and  much  time  was  thus  lost.  Before  Dr. 
Mann  left  Stuttgart  he  wrote  an  appeal  to  the  Consistory 
of  Wurtemberg,  asking  them  to  encourage  young  clergymen 
to  go  to  America  to  supply  the  need  of  German  congrega- 
tions there.  In  March,  '68,  the  diary  mentions  that  he 
received  a  copy  of  the  Wiiertembergisches  Kirchen  luid  ScJuil 
Blatt  w'lih  the  notice  that  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  congre- 
gation of  Philadelphia,  Pa. ,  was  seeking  a  pastor. 

For  nearly  a  year  after  his  return,  with  the  aid  of  the 
young  pastor  who  had  been  his  substitute  during  the  sum- 
mer, Dr.  Mann  had  the  entire  care  of  the  congregation. 
In  the  busy  Lenten  season  and  especially  during  Passion 
week  the  Rev.  S.  K.  Brobst,  of  Allentown,  an  esteemed 
and  life-long  friend,  the  editor  of  several  German  Church 
papers,  assisted  him. 

In  the  meantime,  the  question  of  separating  St.  Paul's 
from  the  Mother  Church  was  much  discussed.  Dr.  Mann's 
diary  in  this  connection  says  :  "I  see  no  insurmountable 
difficulties  in  our  way  ;  but  feel  that  I  shall  in  the  end  find 
myself  in  a  very  bad  predicament ;  as  each  congregation 
claims  that  I  ought  to  be  its  pastor.  This  involves  me  in 
an  unpleasant  dilemma." 

In  July,  '68,  Rev.  Emil  Riecke  arrived  from  Germany, 
and  he  served  the  congregation  for  a  time  ;  the  vestry,  how- 
ever, resolved  in  August,  after  an  appeal  from  the  members 
living  near  Zion's  church,  that  Dr.  Mann  thereafter  was  to 
preach  exclusively  in  Zion's  or  St.  Michael's.  This  made 
Rev.  Mr.  Riecke  virtually  the  pastor  of  St.  Paul's  congrega- 
tion, though  because  of  technical  difficulties  and  the  divi- 
sion of  the  church  property,  the  final  separation  into  two 
congregations  did  not  take  place  until  1869. 


PASTORAL  WORK.  IO7 

St.  Paul's  received  besides  its  chiircli  building  and  paro- 
chial school  house  about  $92,000  as  its  share  of  the  church 
monies,  which  division  was  decided  upon  at  a  meeting  of 
the  vestr>'  on  the  7th  of  May,  1868,  and  ratified  by  a  congre- 
gational vote  on  the  2nd  of  June  of  the  same  year. 

Unfortunately,  the  unwise  course  the  young  clergyman 
at  St.  Paul's  Church  pursued,  notwithstanding  the  sage 
and  friendly  advice  and  assistance  Dr.  Mann  most  heartily 
offered  him, .caused  much  dissatisfaction  in  that  cono^reofa- 
tion,  and  as  a  consequence,  he  was  not  accepted  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Llinisterium  of  Pa.  Upon  this,  he  was  obliged  to 
leave  the  congregation,  which  in  1870  elected  Rev.  Fred. 
Wischan  its  pastor,  who  is  still  in  charge. 

On  the  13th  of  May,  1866,  the  Centennial  Jubilee  of  the 
historic  Zion  Church  was  celebrated.  For  one  hundred 
years  the  congregation  had  worshiped  within  those  sacred 
walls,  and  for  this  happy  festival,  the  venerable  building 
was  beautified  by  rich  and  appropriate  floral  decorations. 
Dr.  Mann  prepared  an  account  of  the  festivities,  which  the 
vestry  had  published  in  German  and  English,  as  a  memorial 
of  the  great  day.  The  enthusiasm  and  love  of  the  congre- 
gation for  their  church  was  fitly  manifested.  The  services 
began  at  10  o'clock  in  the  morning.  Long  before  the 
church  bells  rang,  every  seat  and  available  standing  room 
was  occupied  and  at  least  three  thousand  people  were 
assembled.  Dr.  Mann  conducted  the  services ;  Dr.  G.  F. 
Krotel,  a  member  of  the  congregation  from  childhood  until 
he  entered  the  ministry,  preached  the  sermon  on  St.  John, 
4:38.  For  an  hour  and  a  half,  he  held  the  attention  of  his 
vast  audience.  The  grand  old  organ,  at  which  the  venerable 
INIr.  George  Miller,  for  fifty-three  years  the  organist  of  the 
church,  presided,  supplemented  by  an  orchestra  of  sixteen 
pieces,  swelled  the  harmony  of  the  opening  choral,  "Ein 
Feste  Burg  ist  unser  Gott,"  in  which  the  vast  congregation 
joined.  In  the  afternoon,  two  thousand  Sunday  school 
children  took  part  in  the  day's  rejoicing ;  and  in  the  even- 


I08  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

ing,  the  missionary  societies  of  the  congregation  celebrated 
the  festival,  the  Rev.  B.  W.  Schmauk,  also  a  son  of  the  old 
Mother  Church,  making  the  address. 

When  the  Ministerium  founded  the  Theological  Semi- 
nary, Dr.  Mann  became  professor  there,  and  after  1 864,  his 
labors  in  it  are  included  in  the  work  of  this  period.  In  a 
letter  written  during  these  years,  he  gives  an  insight  into  his 
busy  days  :  "  I  am  now  working,  I  may  say,  almost  day  and 
night,  and  my  soul  is  in  it.  Thus  far,  too,  I  feel  well 
enough.  I  believe  it  would  be  suicidal  for  me  to  give  up 
work.  Besides  preparing  myself  for  my  lectures  at  the 
Seminary,  I  write  every  week  for  the  Ltitheran^  more  for 
the  Evangelische  Zeitschrift^  continue  the  translation  of  the 
Commentary  to  the  New  Testament  for  the  Tract  Society, 
keep  up  a  considerable  correspondence,  and  at  the  same 
time  preach  and  perform  my  various  and  burdensome  duties 
as  pastor  and  yet  find  time,  though  by  no  means  all  I  want, 
for  reading  and  study.  America,  thou  art  a  glorious  coun- 
try ;  if  a  man  does  not  learn  usefully  to  employ  his  time  and 
rationally  to  spend  his  life  in  this  land  of  a  great  present 
and  a  miraculous  future,  he  is  lost  to  virtue  !  But,  true  it 
is,  that  whoever  is  not  active  in  this  country,  might  as  well 
be  off  the  stage  !" 

With  the  most  intense  interest.  Dr.  Mann  had  followed 
the  political  developements  which  culminated  in  the  Civil 
War.  Though  not  an  American  by  birth,  he  was  thor- 
oughly American  in  his  sympathies.  During  those  four 
years  of  the  terrible  conflict,  his  hopes  and  prayers  were 
with  the  Union.  Not  only  does  his  diary  note  the  events 
of  those  stirring  days,  but  his  scrap  book  also  contains  the 
history  of  the  struggle  in  newspaper  clippings.  In  nis  cor- 
respondence with  Dr.  Schaff,  the  great  events,  political  and 
military,  "that  were  making  history  so  fast,"  were  thor- 
oughly discussed.  "God  save  the  Country  !"  he  exclaimed 
on  one  occasion,  when  the  future  seemed  very  dark,  "for 
men  are  doing  all  they  can  to  ruin  it !' ' 


PASTORAL  WORK.  IO9 

In  December,  '61,  he  visited  Washington,  when,  in  those 
war  times,  the  struggling  and  bleeding  nation's  capital  beat 
with  feverish  excitement. 

Several  of  his  sermons  preached  on  fast  days  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  were  printed  in  one  of  the  Philadelphia 
daily  papers. 

The  genius  and  heroism  of  Abraham  Lincoln  always 
aroused  his  enthusiasm.  He  had  closely  followed  the 
political  career  of  the  "Greatest  American"  from  the  days 
of  the  controversy  with  Douglas,  and  after  Lincoln's 
Cooper  Institute  speech,  recognized  in  him  a  statesman  of 
high  intellectual  acumen.  Dr.  Mann  translated  the  '  'Second 
Inaugural"  into  the  German  for  publication. 

In  February  and  March,  1865,  he  was  very  ill,  and  dur- 
ing convalescence,  in  the  short  period  of  rejoicing  that  fol- 
lowed the  surrender  of  Richmond,  in  a  letter  to  Dr.  Schaff, 
he  says : 

"  I  have  not  yet  made  my  reappearance  in  the  pulpit.  My  strength  is 
coming  back  very-  slowly.  Queer  thing,  our  health  and  strength  !  My 
chest  and  lungs,  I  always  took  to  be  the  Richmond  in  the  Confederacy  of 
members  of  my  body.  But  Richmond  is  gone,  and  the  Confederacy  is 
gone,  and,  indeed,  I  was  almost  gone  ! 

"  To  read  the  newspapers  after  the  great  drama  of  these  davs  is  over 
will  be  a  tiresome  business.  What  great  thing  is  to  be  expected  after  this 
'  fall,  my  countrj-men  '  ?  And  a  great  thing  it  is,  looking  backward 
and  forward.  The  Americans  may  boast  now  ;  there  is  assuredly  some- 
thing to  boast  of !  Never  did  aristocracy  receive  harder  knocks,  never 
democracy  and  republicanism  achieve  more  glorious  triumph.  Never  did 
history-  more  decidedly  advance  in  the  great  Protestant  movement,  forivard. 
America  has  done  the  most  American  thing— fought,  suffered,  struggled 
and  bled,  for  the  great  principle  of  individual  liberty  and  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  human  rights.  The  United  States  has  now  established  the  prin- 
ciple of  republicanism  on  the  most  substantial  basis,  and  we  have  the 
historic  proof  that  this  Republic  has  a  tenacious  life  and  has  accomplished 
what  no  monarchy  on  earth  could  do— overthrow  a  rebellion  of  such 
colossal  proportions. 

"Of  course,  there  are  yet  breakers  ahead.  Still,  the  raging  of  the  storm 
is  at  an  end  and  the  sea  is  calming.  Everybody  and  his  wife  is  congratu- 
lating everybody  and  his  neighbor  and  the  nation  is  instinctively  feeling 
that  it  is  a  great  power  among  the'great  powers  of  earth. 


no  MEMOIR   OF  WII.LIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"  You  reminded  me  in  your  last  that  I  had  promised  to  come  to  New 
York  to  speak  at  the  mass  meeting  at  Cooper  Institute  '  dead  or  alive.' 
Very  true.  But  I  did  not  promise  to  come  'half  dead,'  and  that  is  what 
I  was  on  the  evening  of  March  12th." 

May  5th,  '65,  he  wrote  to  the  same  friend,  who  was  about 
to  depart  for  Europe  : 

"That  our  good  Lincoln  was  in  a  theatre  on  Good  Friday  is,  of  course, 
misunderstood  in  Germany.  It  will  be  a  good  work  on  your  part  if  you 
set  a  dozen  millions  of  Germans  right  on  this  point,  which  you  can  do  by 
lecturing  and  writing.  The  rebellion  has  bequeathed  to  the  future  an 
immense  amount,  not  only  of  historical,  but  also  of  poetical,  material. 
Lincoln  will  be  the  hero  of  a  great  tragedy  whose  author  has  not  yet 
been  born.  Certainly,  there  is  everything  connected  with  this  four  years' 
struggle  from  the  open  battle  down  to  the  contraband  negro  and  even  the 
bloody  conspirator,  that  will  inspire  the  poet  and  give  thrilling  interest  to 
the  poem. 

"In  a  few  weeks  my  labors  at  the  Seminary  close  for  the  summer. 
Then  I  shall  be  able  to  pay  attention  to  the  Evafigelische  Zeiignisse. 
I  may  have  to  leave  town  for  a  time  to  recuperate  ;  for  this  reason,  I  can 
hardly  be  expected  to  have  the  whole  responsibility  of  the  journal  rest- 
ing on  my  shoulders.  I  shall  speak  to  my  colleague,  Mr.  Spaeth,  about 
it,  and  if  he  is  willing  to  share  the  work,  then  all  right !  You  will  hear 
from  me  again  in  a  few  days." 

On  the  1st  Nov.,  1868,  the  Mother  Congregation  bade 
farewell  to  their  beloved  Zion  Church,  Dr.  Mann  preaching 
his  last  sermon  in  that  venerable,  memorable  building. 
Cherry  and  Fourth  streets  was  no  longer  the  proper  locality 
for  the  church,  the  people  having  in  the  course  of  years 
moved  further  west,  while  the  eastern  section  of  the  city 
was  devoted  almost  exclusively  to  business.  The  plan  for 
a  new  Zion  Church  had  already  been  adopted.  It  would 
have  accorded  well  with  the  feelings  of  many  of  the  con- 
gregation to  preserve  the  old  building  as  a  historic  landmark. 
But  it  was  very  large  and  on  valuable  ground,  and  would 
have  been  a  constant  drain  upon  the  treasury  without  bring- 
ing adequate  good  to  the  Church. 

Some  years  later,  when  St.  Michael's  Church 'which  was 
built  in  1743,  was  no  longer  used  as  a  house  of  worship, 
the  question  of  preserving  it  as  a  monument  of  the  past  was 


PASTORAL  WORK.  Ill 

discussed  ;  and  for  a  time  it  stood  defying  tlie  successive 
changes  about  it.  But  there  was  continual  trouble  to  keep 
it  in  proper  repair,  and  it  would  have  required  the  services 
of  a  watchman  to  keep  the  sacred  precinct  free  from  pro- 
fanation. The  boys  of  the  neighborhood  climbed  the  brick 
wall  enclosing  the  cemetery  around  the  Church,  often  broke 
the  windows  by  throwing  stones,  and  thus  the  building 
became  a  great  source  of  care.  It  was  therefore  sold  in 
1874,  and  on  the  once  sacred  spot  substantial  buildings  for 
business  purposes  have  been  erected. 

When  these  two  buildings  were  destroyed,  the  Avood  of  the 
altars  and  pulpits  was  converted  into  appropriate  memen- 
toes, which  the  pastor  and  many  members  of  the  congrega- 
tion preserved  as  sacred  relics  of  the  past.  Pictures,  too,  of 
the  exterior  and  interior  of  the  historic  buildings  were 
taken.  A  fine  one  of  the  interior  of  Zion's  Church  has 
lately  been  reproduced  in  an  illustrated  work  on  "  Historic 
Churches  of  America."  (H.  L.  Everett,  227  S.  Sixth  St., 
Phila.) 


CHAPTER   XIII. 

TRIP  TO  EUROPE  IN  1867. 

DURING  the  winter  and  spring  of  1867,  Dr.  Mann's 
health  was  impaired.  The  many  years  of  untiring 
work  had  greatly  reduced  him  ;  and  after  the  severe  illness 
of  the  spring  of  '65,  he  had  not  regained  his  accustomed 
vigor.  At  length  he  consented,  at  the  earnest  entreaties  of 
his  wife,  to  cast  off  the  burden  of  work  for  a  time  and  visit 
his  mother  in  Stuttgart.  The  decision  to  go  was  made 
only  a  few  weeks  before  the  departure.  When  in  May,  '67, 
he  notes  in  the  diary  that  his  cousin,  Mr.  Rob.  Otto  and 
family,  sailed  for  Europe,  he  adds,  "my  prospects  of  seeing 
the  Fatherland  are  very  poor. ' '  A  month  after  that,  how- 
ever, he  sailed  for  Bremen,  taking  two  of  his  children  with 
him. 

The  Rev.  Adolph  Spaeth  had  promised  to  aid  in  the  care 
of  the  congregation  and  the  Rev.  F.  P.  Mayser  had  been 
temporarily  appointed  pastor. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  the  diary  says  :  "  To-day,  to  New 
York ;  to-morrow.  Providence  willing,  off  for  the  Father- 
land, after  an  absence  of  twenty-two  years.  This  is  a  long 
stretch  of  life  !  God  be  praised  for  his  innumerable  mercies 
and  his  wonderful  guidance  in  so  many  vicissitudes  !  All 
was  infinite  goodness  and  fatherly  love.  If  I  am  ever  to 
see  Germany  again,  this  appears  to  be  the  most  propitious 
time.  All  things  in  the  congregation  are  tranquilly  pursu- 
ing their  course,  and  this  makes  parting  easier.  I  have 
within  these  last  weeks  received  a  great  many  proofs  of 
heartfelt  sympathy  and  love  from  our  good  people,  and  I 


A  JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE.  II3 

may  look  upon  this  as  a  symptom  that  I  have  labored  these 
seventeen  years  among  them  not  quite  in  vain.  I  am 
astonished  at  the  way  my  projected  voyage  has  come  to  be 
executed ;  that  I  could  make  up  my  n'lind  to  go  ;  that  my 
good  wife  actually  sends  me  !  God  alone  knows  the  future 
and  to  his  infinite  mercy  and  wisdom  may  all  be  committed  ! " 
From  Dr.  Mann's  daily  diary  of  the  journey,  which  is 
beautified  by  many  sketches  which  he  took  on  the  way,  a 
detailed  description  of  the  visit  to  the  beloved  mother  'in 
the  dear  home  of  childhood  and  youth  might  be  given.  It 
was  a  season  of  rest,  refreshment  and  rejuvenation.  The 
interest  of  his  children,  in  the  new  experiences  of  travel, 
heightened  Dr.  Mann's  enjoyment  of  the  voyage,  which  by- 
way of  Bremen,  Cologne,  Bonn,  where  he  enjoyed  a  meet- 
ing with  Prof.  Dr.  Lange  of  the  University,  the  Rhine,  and 
Mayence  led  to  Stuttgart. 

The  meeting  of  mother  and  son,  after  so  many  years,  was 
indeed  one  of  "the  greatest,  most  memorable  moments  of 
life. ' '  Dr.  Mann's  mother,  though  long  past  three-score  and 
ten,  was  full  of  energ}-.  Her  mental  vigor  was  remarkable, 
and  her  joy  in  the  grand-children  and  her  loving  interest  in 
the  dear  daughter  and  grand-children  in  America  added  not 
a  little  to  the  happiness  of  that  happy  summer.  She  was 
well  versed  in  the  political,  social  and  religious  condition  of 
Germany  and  well-informed  on  American  affairs,  so  that 
mother  and  son  often  conversed  on  these  topics  until  long 
after  midnight. 

In  the  large  circle  of  relatives,  with  whom  correspondence 
had  maintained  a  lively  and  loving  acquaintance,  innumer- 
able visits  were  exchanged.  Many  pleasant  days  were  spent 
in  exploring  together  one  or  the  other  of  the  old  mediaeval 
castles,  perched  here  and  there  on  the  Suabian-Alb,  the 
remnants  of  feudal  days  ;  or  the  beauties  of  the  royal  villa 
at  Berg,  or  the  Wilhelma  at  Stuttgart,  were  shown  to  the 
Americans  ;  or  a  visit  in  the  early  morning  to  tlie  Springs  at 
Cannstadt,  or  to  Esslingen  and  its  beautiful  Frauen  Kirche 
8 


114  MEMOIR   OF   WILI.IAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

was  undertaken  ;  or  a  visit  to  the  Rothenberg  made,  where, 
in  a  Greek  chapel  of  white  marble,  repose  the  remains  of 
King  William  of  Wurtemberg  and  his  consort ;  or  the  ex- 
quisite view  of  the  surrounding  country  was  enjoyed  from 
the  former  summer  palace  of  the  king,  the  Solitude. 

Especially  did  Dr.  Mann  enjoy  meeting  his  old  friends, 
the  Rev.  Herman  Eytel,  with  whom  he  was  associate  vicar- 
iusin  Neuhausen  in  1844;  the  Rev.  C.  G.  Guenther,  who 
had  been  in  Philadelphia  in  1853,  and  in  '67  was  living  in 
Stuttgart  as  court  chaplain  to  the  king  of  Wurtemberg ; 
and  Decan  Knapp  of  Esslingen,  and  the  Rev.  Eipper  of 
Stettin,  friends  of  university  days.  The  intercourse  with 
the  Prelate  Von  Kapff,  his  mother's  life-long  friend  ;  Prelate 
von  Gerok,  the  poet ;  Prelate  von  Moser,  Prof.  Christoph 
Schwab,  brother  of  Gustav  Schwab  of  New  York ;  the 
Rev.  Wm.  Gasper,  Dr.  F.  Hahn,  Prof  Pfleiderer  and  Prof. 
Staudt  of  Konnthal,  Herr  Decan  Ellwanger,  of  Nuertingen, 
Decan  Zeller  of  Esslingen,  Dr.  Maerz  of  Hall,  who  had  in 
former  years  sent  material  for  the  Kirchenfreiind^  and  others, 
was  interesting  and  stimulating,  and  afforded  a  deep  insight 
into  the  religious  life  of  Wurtemberg,  and  opportunity  to 
present  the  state  of  the  church  in  America.  At  an  inter- 
national mission  festival  at  Kornthal,  in  July,  Dr.  Mann 
delivered  an  address.  On  the  first  Sunday  in  Stuttgart  he 
listened  to  three  sermons,  each  in  a  different  church,  and 
opened  the  Sunday-school  services,  in  the  Paulinen  Pflege, 
with  prayer  and  an  address. 

In  July,  he  went  to  Switzerland  for  some  weeks  with  his 
two  children.  From  Friedrichshaven  across  Lake  Con- 
stance to  Romanshorn,  and  thence  to  Zurich  their  way  led, 
and  from  there  to  Horgen,  where  a  visit  was  paid  to  Mrs. 
Dr.  Meta  Haeuser,  the  poetess  and  friend  of  Dr.  Schaff. 
Most  kindly  did  she  welcome  Dr.  Mann,  who  brought 
greetings  from  the  friend  in  America,  and  most  charming 
was  her  Swiss  home  on  the  Hirzelhohe  with  its  majestic 
panorama  of  the  Alps. 


A  JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE.  II5 

There  was  no  railroad  in  those  days  up  the  Ri^hi.  Dr. 
Mann  rode  up  on  horseback,  and  his  children  were  carried 
lip  and  down  in  sedan  chairs.  He  walked  down  from  the 
•Kulm  to  Kuessnacht  in  two  hours,  and  enjoyed  the  exercise, 
though  he  writes,  "it  war.  rather  warm."  From  Kuess- 
nacht they  went  across  the  Lake  of  the  Four  Cantons  to 
Lucerne  and  thence  again  by  steamboat  to  Alpnach.  From 
there  they  drove  over  the  Brunig,  where,  across  the  lake, 
they  visited  the  Giessbach  ;  and  then,  from  Brienz,  the  jour- 
ney was  continued  to  Interlaken,  the  Lauterbrunnen  and 
Gruendelwald  valleys,  Thun,  Berne,  Basle,  where  a  visit  was 
paid  to  Dr.  Spittler  and  the  St.  Chrischona,  and  by  way  of 
Baden  Baden,  Stuttgart  was  again  reached. 

After  remaining  a  week  with  his  mother,  he  left  his  chil- 
dren in  her  care,  and  made  an  extended  tour  through  Aus- 
tria and  Germany.  He  went  to  Nuremberg,  Erlangen, 
Bamberg,  Eisenach  and  Leipsic,  where  he  visited  Prof.  Dr. 
Tholuck.  Thence  he  proceeded  to  Berlin,  where  he  became 
acquainted  with  Prof  Dr.  J.  A.  Dorner  of  the  university, 
whom,  in  after  years,  he  had  the  pleasure  of  receiving  at  his 
home  in  Philadelphia,  on  the  occasion  of  the  meeting  of 
the  Evangelical  Alliance,  in  1873.  From  Berlin  he  went  by 
way  of  Dresden  and  Prague  to  Vienna  and  thence  returned 
by  Salzburg  and  Munich  to  Stuttgart,  rich  in  memory  with 
the  spoils  of  his  journey. 

The  sight  of  so  much  that  he  knew  well,  but  had  not 
before  seen,  his  deep  appreciation  of  the  productions  of  art, 
his  keen  enjoyment  of  natural  beauty,  the  personal  contact 
with  men  whose  work  and  works  had  long  been  familiar  to 
him,  occasional  pleasant  and  unexpected  meetings  with 
German  and  American  friends  that  happened  several  times 
during  this  trip,  made  the  journey  an  altogether  delight- 
ful experience.  An  indefatigable  traveler,  he  wasted  no 
minutes  of  the  long  day,  which,  as  he  was  an  early  riser, 
began  for  him  at  four  or  five  o'clock  in  the  morning.  He 
was  at  early  mass  in  the  dome  at  Cologne;  in  Switzerland 


Il6  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

everywhere,  he  greeted  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  illumining 
the  snow-capped  mountains  ;  "At  five  this  morning,"  he 
writes,  ' '  I  left  for  Madgeburg. ' '  Nor  did  he  anywhere 
neglect  to  enjoy  the  views  from  church  steeples  and  elevated 
positions,  a  vantage  ground  which  he  always  especially  en- 
joyed. He  had  not  been  half  an  hour  in  his  mother's  home 
in  Stuttgart  before  he  climbed  upon  the  roof  of  the  house 
to  take  a  survey  of  the  dear  familiar  city! 

Beside  carrying  on  a  voluminous  correspondence  with 
loved  ones  and  friends  in  America,  he  sent  articles  to  the 
Lutherische  Zeitschrift.  Differences  between  the  Old  and 
New  World,  views  prevailing  in  Germany  about  America, 
Sabbath  observance,  the  general  religious  condition  of  the 
Fatherland,  liturgical  forms  in  divine  worship  in  various 
parts  of  Germany,  thoughts  awakened  by  the  experiences  of 
travel,  descriptions  and  incident  of  his  journey,  and  many 
other  topics  occupied  his  pen.  The  hours  of  evening  were 
given  to  literary  work  and  correspondence.  Though  his  time 
seems  to  have  been  very  much  occupied,  his  diary  says  : 
"Now  and  then  I  have  the  feeling  that  I  am  outrageously 
lazy,  and  that  I  need  real  work  to  be  satisfied  with  myself." 

On  the  25th  of  August,  he  preached  at  Hirshlanden, 
Wurtemberg,  where  his  friend,  the  Rev.  Paul  Steudel  was 
then  pastor,  in  the  old  village  church  in  which  his  father 
had  been  baptized  and  confirmed,  and  where  for  more  than 
three  hundred  years  his  ancestors  had  worshiped.  Among 
the  congregation  on  that  day  there  were  descendants  of  a 
branch  of  the  family,  who  still  lived  in  the  village. 

In  Stuttgart,  devoting  his  time  to  his  mother,  and  the 
nearer  circle  of  relatives  and  clerical  friends,  the  last  weeks 
of  August  were  spent,  and  on  the  3d  of  September  the  sad 
farewell  had  to  be  spoken.  It  was  a  deep  shadow  in  the 
bright  picture,  this  parting  that  had  to  come.  The  mother 
had  a  second  time  to  resign  her  son  and  the  grandchildren 
whom  she  loved  so  well  and  who  gratefully  returned  her 
deep  affection. 


A  JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE.  II7 

The  journey  to  Bremen  was  made  by  way  of  Heidelberg, 
Frankfort-on-tlie- Maine,  Cassel  and  Hanover,  and  on  the 
voyage  home  Dr.  Mann  and  his  children  enjoyed  the  com- 
panionship of  Mr.  Rob.  Otto  and  his  family.  On  Sunday 
at  sea,  Dr.  Mann  was  asked  to  preach  in  the  grand  saloon; 
but  he  told  the  captain  he  would  preach  to  the  emigrants  if 
there  was  no  objection.  On  the  lower  deck  of  the  steamer 
he  addressed  a  large  assembly,  speaking  in  German  on  the 
three  questions  :  "  Where  do  we  come  from  ?  Whither  are 
we  going?  Who  is  our  guide  ?"  A  prayer  and  a  German 
choral,  in  which  all  the  listeners  joined,  closed  the  short 
service. 

On  the  22d  of  September  there  was  a  glad  meeting  in 
the  jNIetropolitan  hotel  in  New  York  :  husband,  wife  and 
children  were  once  more  united  ;  and  with  grateful  hearts 
they  acknowledged  God's  infinite  goodness.  Dear  relatives 
and  friends,  foremost  among  them  Dr.  Schaff  and  Mr. 
Gustav  Schwab,  were  there  also,  and  a  great  deal  of  talking 
and  narrating  went  on  in  the  happy  circle.  The  return  to 
Philadelphia  was  made  on  the  following  day. 

On  the  24th  of  September  the  diar}^  says  :  ' '  This  morn- 
ing our  trunks  arrived.  Now  there  was  a  noise  and  chatter- 
ing, and  the  children  received  their  presents.  We  were  all 
inexpressibly  happy.  In  the  afternoon  a  large  delegation 
from  the  vestry-  and  congregation,  and  the  teachers  of  the 
parochial  schools  came  to  greet  me,  and  brought  me  some 
beautiful  and  costly  presents.  The  teachers  presented  me 
with  appreciative  memorial  resolutions  handsomely  en- 
graved. Brother  Spaeth  made  a  short  address  and  invited 
me  to  be  present  at  St.  Paul's  Church  in  the  evening. 

"There,  then,  I  had  a  grand  reception.  The  church  was 
crowded.  Of  the  Lutheran  clergy  about  a  dozen  were 
present.  There  was  singing  and  prayer.  Then  brother 
Spaeth  addressed  me  in  behalf  of  the  congregation  in  beau- 
tiful words;  Dr.  Schaeffer  in  behalf  of  the  faculty  of  our 
seminary.      I  don't  believe  a  great  deal  of  what  these  good 


Il8  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

men  said  in  my  honor  and  praise.  I,  of  course,  replied,  and 
found  it  very  easy,  under  the  high  pressure  within.  Indeed, 
I  think  this  was  the  proudest  day  of  my  life.  And  now, 
this  ends  the  great  event,  the  journey  to  my  home  and  back 
again !  Most  pleasant  is  the  recollection  ;  innumerable 
were  the  mercies  we  enjoyed!  To  God  be  thanks  and  praise 
now  and  forever!" 


CHAPTER  XIV. 

WORK  AS  PROFESSOR.     1864— 189 1. 

THE  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  while  advancing  "to 
a  clearer  consciousness  of  its  relation  and  duty  to  the 
pure  faith  of  the  church"  during  the  decade  from  1850-60, 
felt  also  the  growing  need  of  an  institution  for  the  training 
of  young  men  for  the  ministry.  Theological  candidates  were 
fitted  for  the  sacred  office  by  receiving  private  instruction 
from  men  of  learning  and  prominence  in  the  Church.  But 
with  increasing  numbers  in  her  community,  this  method  of 
training  the  ministry  was  no  longer  adequate  to  her 
necessities. 

Nearly  a  hundred  years  before,  at  the  meeting  of  Synod 
in  June,  1773,  ^^-  J-  C-  Kunze  had,  already  in  that  day,  pro- 
posed a  plan  for  the  establishment  of  a  theological  semi- 
nary. The  War  of  Independence  had,  soon  after,  greatly 
impeded  emigration  and  impoverished  the  people,  and  the 
idea  had  to  be  abandoned  for  the  time. 

So  great  was  the  need  of  a  seminary,  especially,  too,  for 
preparing  young  men  to  serve  the  German  congregations, 
that  the  vestry  of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion  in  1822  resolved  to 
establish  an  institution  for  educating  young  men  for  the 
service  of  the  Church. 

The  Theological  Seminary  at  Gettysburg  came  into  being 
under  the  auspices  of  the  General  Synod  in  1826 ;  and  in 
1855,  the  Ministerium  founded  the  German  professorship  in 
the  Gettysburg  Seminary,  with  the  special  object  of  enabling 
students  to  secure  theological  training  in  that  language. 
But  after  the  greater  divergence  in  confessional  standpoints 
between  the  General  Synod  and  the  Ministerium,  the  need 

119 


I20  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

of  a  seminary,  with  professors  of  distinctively  Lutheran 
convictions,  became  more  and  more  apparent. 

On  the  26th  and  27th  of  July,  1864,  in  an  extra  session 
of  the  Ministerium  at  Allentown,  Pa.,  it  was  decided  to  es- 
tablish a  Theological  Seminary.  Dr.  Mann  and  Dr.  C.  P. 
Krauth  were  unanimously  elected  ordinary  professors,  and 
Drs.  C.  W.  Schaeffer  and  G.  F.  Krotel,  professors  extra- 
ordinarii. 

Dr.  Mann,  much  gratified  with  the  call  to  this  new  work, 
wrote  :  "I  feel  that  a  new  era  in  my  life  is  coming,  and  I 
thank  God  for  it !" 

On  the  5th  of  October  of  the  same  year,  the  newly  elected 
professors  with  Dr.  C.  F.  Schaeffer,  the  incumbent  of  the 
German  professorship,  before  founded  by  the  Ministerium  at 
Gettysburg,  were  solemnly  installed  in  St.  John's  Church, 
as  professors  of  the  Theological  Seminary  of  the  Lutheran 
Church  at  Philadelphia. 

At  9  o'clock  the  next  morning.  Dr.  Mann  opened  the 
first  session  by  delivering  a  lecture  on  the  Epistle  to  the 
Romans,  ' '  giving  a  sketch  of  St .  Paul' s  life  and  activity, ' ' 
to  a  class  of  eleven  students,  in  the  rooms  of  the  Board  of 
Publication,  42  N .  9th  Street,  Philadelphia. 

In  these  days  of  fruition,  when  the  words  Lutheran 
Theological  Seminary  are  identified  with  the  stately  and 
substantial  buildings  at  Mt.  Airy,  it  is  well  to  recall  the 
energy  and  faith  of  those  men  who  founded  the  Seminary, 
when  they  had  neither  funds,  nor  building,  nor  library,  nor 
indeed  any  tangible  nucleus  for  such  an  institution.  The 
generosity  of  Mr.  Charles  G.  Norton  in  endowing  a  pro- 
fessorship was  a  great  encouragement.  But  there  was 
besides  this,  only  the  professorship  founded  by  the  Minis- 
terium. Under  these  circumstances,  it  was  a  great  blessing 
that,  after  all,  the  most  valuable  and  indispensable  element 
in  an  institution  of  learning  was  not  wanting  :  the  learned 
men,  willing  and  able  to  lecture  without  thought  of  pecu- 
niary reward. 


WORK   AS   PROFESSOR.  121 

But  the  liope  of  securing  a  substantial  financial  basis  was 
strong  within  the  breasts  of  at  least  some  of  the  members  of 
Synod,  On  the  29th  of  August,  1865,  ^^^  Mann's  diary 
says:  "The  Board  of  Directors  of  our  Seminary  has  been 
in  session  and  Dr.  Seiss  was  elected  chairman.  In  the 
evening,  Brother  Brobst  called  on  me  and  said  they  had 
resolved  that  the  professors  ordinarii  should  devote  their 
whole  time  to  the  vSeminary,  and  that,  therefore,  I,  too, 
would  have  to  resign  my  charge.  I  told  him  m)-  congre- 
gation was  not  prepared  for  such  a  step,  and  that  I  could 
not  at  once  leave  them  ;  also,  that,  thus  far,  they  had  taken 
good  care  of  me  in  a  pecuniary  way,  and  that  I  could  not 
see  much  security  for  receiving  a  salary  as  professor. 
Good  Brobst  seeijis  to  think  they  will  be  able  to  endow 
their  professorships.  ]\Iy  brother-in-law.  Dr.  Rommel,  was 
present,  and  it  was  agreed  between  us  that  I  should  have 
nothing  to  do  with  this  proposition,  and  that  the  Board 
should  address  my  vestr}'. " 

This  the  Board  of  Directors  did,  but  there  was  no  possi- 
bility of  Dr.  ^lann's  leaving  his  congregation  ;  neither  were 
the  hopes  of  endowing  the  Seminary  realized.  He  labored 
for  some  years  altogether  gratuitously,  doing  full  work  as 
professor ;  until  he  resigned  as  pastor  in  1884,  he  accepted 
only  one-third  of  his  salary  as  professor  ;  and  even  after- 
wards, he  did  not  draw  the  whole  of  it,  knowing  that  the 
Synod  and  the  Seminary  needed  the  money. 

He  undertook  his  new  work  with  all  his  accustomed 
energy,  enthusiasm  and  conscientiousness.  He  was  so  fully 
convinced  of  the  necessity  of  the  institution,  he  had  labored 
so  long  to  bring  about  its  establishment,  that  these  consid- 
erations, added  to  his  love  of  teaching,  his  eminent  qualifi- 
cations as  a  theologian,  and  his  natural  s}-mpathy  with  the 
young,  made  him  "take  great  delight"  in  his  lectures  and 
labors  for  the  students.  "I  only  wish,"  he  says,  "that I 
could  devote  myself  entirely  to  this  branch  of  my  work." 

His  topics  as  professor  were  Ethics,  Symbolics,  Homilet- 


122  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

ics,  New  Testament  Exegesis  and  Hebrew.  The  extraor- 
dinary care  he  exercised,  in  the  preparation  of  his  lec- 
tures, is  evinced  by  the  large  amount  of  manuscript  which 
he  has  left. 

In  1872  he  abridged  and  translated  as  a  class  book  for  his 
students,  Dr.  Christian  Fred.  Schmid's  "System  of  Christian 
Ethics. ' '  This,  book,  entitled  ' '  General  Principles  of  Chris- 
tian Ethics,"  grew  out  of  his  lectures  on  the  subject.  In 
the  preface  he  says:  "This  work  will  have  done  service, 
however  limited,  if  it  should  open  to  some  extent  and  de- 
lineate systematically  the  treasures  of  the  gospel  in  an  eth- 
ical point  of  view,  and  if  it  should  encourage  the  study  of 
a  branch  of  Evangelical  Theology,  becoming  more  and 
more  important  by  its  relation  to  Social  Science,  which 
is  unfortunately  pursued  by  some  without  proper  regard  for 
the  only  sure  foundation  of  ethical  principles,  and  of  truly 
moral  individual  and  social  life." 

On  the  2 2d  of  May,  1865,  he  laid  the  affairs  of  the  semi- 
nary before  a  conference  of  the  New  York  Ministerium  at 
a  meeting  in  St.  Matthew's  Church,  New  York.  The  ob- 
ject was  to  secure  financial  aid  and  moral  support  from  that 
body,  which  has  since  sent  many  students  to  the  seminary, 
and  numbers  among  its  members  many  clergymen  sent  out 
from  the  institution  in  succeeding  years. 

After  Zion  Church  on  Franklin  Street  was  finished  in 
1870,  and  Dr.  Mann  occupied  the  parsonage  next  to  it,  the 
seminary  was  only  a  few  doors  from  his  home.  This  ar- 
rangement very  materially  aided  him  by  saving  valuable 
time.  Having  his  two  workshops  within  a  few  yards  of  each 
other,  he  could  arrange  his  lectures  so  as  to  utilize  the 
minutes,  and  he  appreciated  this  very  highly.  Without 
these  facilities  it  would  have  been  impossible  for  him  to 
accomplish  all  the  work  of  those  years.  From  1872-1884 
he  performed  also  the  duties  of  "house-father:"  the 
general  deportment  and  discipline  as  well  as  the  comfort 
of  the  students  being  subject  to  his  oversight.  During  sick- 


WORK   AS   PROFESSOR.  1 23 

ness  ill  tlie  seminary  he  was  indefatigable  in  his  attentions 
to  his  pupils,  and  one  winter  when  small-pox  broke  out 
among  them,  he  '*  went  through  an  amount  of  trouble,"  as 
he  afterwards  said,  and  was  daily  many  times  with  the  sick. 

The  number  of  students  grew  from  year  to  year,  and  in 
1876  the  building  was  materially  enlarged.  A  decade  later 
even  these  increased  accommodations  were  uncomfortably 
crowded  and  the  project  for  securing  a  site  beyond  the  city 
limits  was  actively  urged.  The  housefather  was  particu- 
larly anxious  to  see  this  happy  consummation  of  hopes  long 
entertained,  as  he,  more  than  any  one  else,  realized  how  very 
necessary  were  larger  quarters.  But  he  almost  despaired  of 
seeing  the  accomplishment  of  his  desire.  When,  however, 
the  day  came  for  the  laying  of  the  corner-stone  at  Mt. 
Airy,  "a  joyous,  hopeful  and  happy  spirit  of  spring-time 
breathed  through  his  stirring  and  beautiful  address  on  that 
occasion."  At  the  dedication  of  the  new  buildings  in 
October,  1889,  gazing  admiringly  at  them,  he  exclaimed, 
"Who  would  ever  have  believed  that  we  should  have  such 
a  fine  seminary !  I  confess  I  thought  I  would  never  live  to 
see  it!" 

For  three  years  he  lectured  in  the  new  halls,  and  it  was 
there  that  his  last  active,  vigorous  work  was  done  ;  and  that 
not  in  the  class-room  alone,  for  the  last  sermon,  also,  that 
he  preached  was  delivered  in  the  chapel  at  Mt.  Airy.  For 
two  years  beyond  the  quarter  of  a  century  which  had  passed 
since  its  foundation,  he  labored  as  professor  at  the  seminary, 
the  only  survivor  of  the  three  professors  ordinarii  originally 
selected. 

For  the  followiJtg  descviptio7i  of  Dr.  Mank  as  professor,  I 
am  indebted  to  his  former  student^  the  REV.  Theo.  E. 
SCHMAUK,  of  Lebanon^  the  son  of  his  old  friend^  the  Rev. 
Benj.  W.  Schmauk. 

Dr.  Mann  was  the  personal  magnet  of  the  Seminary, 
He  drew  strongly,  and  perhaps  occasionally  repelled  those 


124  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

not  in  sympathy  with  him.  There  could  be  no  neutral  or 
indifferent  feeling  in  his  presence.  He  compelled  activity 
in  the  minds  of  those  under  him.  He  was  more  alive  than 
any  teacher  I  have  ever  had,  and  he  shed  abroad  his  living 
spirit,  force,  and  personal  vitality  into  the  minds  and  hearts 
of  his  pupils.  This  was  perhaps  the  most  distinguishing 
feature  of  Dr.  Mann's  professorial  power.  There  was  never 
a  dull  or  dead  hour  in  his  presence.  Students  eagerly 
looked  forward  to,  or  positively  dreaded,  his  coming  recita- 
tion. Even  in  an  elementary  Hebrew  recitation  there  was 
sufficient  excitement — especially  for  the  student  who  did 
not  know  his  lesson.  In  Symbolics,  there  was  nearly 
always  a  weighty  presentation  of  doctrine,  or  new  angle  of 
vision,  or  grand  line  of  connection,  or  great  historical 
aspect,  brought  perhaps  to  bear  on  present  issues  in  such  a 
manner  as  to  set  the  student's  mind  to  thinking  for  hours. 
In  Ethics  and  Homiletics,  the  interest  rose  to  a  white  heat, 
and  the  student  came  away  with  a  distinctive  gain  in  men- 
tal and  moral  strength.  It  was  impossible  not  to  participate 
in  the  original  and  many-sided  activities  of  this  teaching 
mind,  and  it  was  impossible  to  participate  without  being 
stimulated. 

His  power  was  due  to  a  deep  spiritual  enthusiasm  on  the 
one  side ;  and  on  the  other,  to  the  balance  of  a  constantly 
checking  critical  faculty,  which  carefully  took  many-sided 
and  all-around  views  in  the  midst  of  the  enthusiasm.  In 
few  temperaments  were  the  springing  enthusiastic  impulse 
and  the  cautiously  checking  critical  doubt  so  perfectly  com- 
bined, as  in  his. 

But,  in  addition,  there  was  in  him  a  wonderful  celerity 
of  mental  movement.  The  student  had  no  time  for  dawd- 
ling or  somnolence  in  his  lectures.  So  swiftly  were  the 
rapidly  recurring  steps  taken  that  the  student  had  to  keep 
wide  awake  and  follow  on  a  run,  making  a  leap  here,  and  a 
turn  there,  and  landing  almost  breathless,  but  radiant  in 
the  possession  of  the  truth.     It  follows  as  a  corollary  that 


WORK   AS   PROFESSOR.  1 25 

such  a  mind  would  be  impatient  with  the  mere  rote  and 
mechanical  method  of  study,  which  college  students  some- 
times acquire  as  a  habit,  and  that  such  a  teacher  would  do 
all  he  could  to  break  it  up.  Dr.  Mann  could  not  endure 
superficiality,  laziness  or  dullness,  and  often  rebuked  them 
sharply  in  his  students.  His  keenness  of  discernment,  and 
instinctive  insight  into  human  nature,  led  him  quickly  to  a 
knowledge  of  the  tricks  of  the  average  student,  which  he 
was  successful  in  exposing  to  ridicule. 

His  main  object  in  teaching  was  to  have  the  student 
understand  and  firmly  possess  the  substance  of  the  truth  for 
himself,  and  he  was  ruthless  in  tearing  off  the  mere  mask 
of  knowledge,  by  wearing  which  the  student  frequently 
deceives  himself  and  others.  He  believed  in  the  student's 
grounding  himself  firmly  and  impregnably  in  a  few  funda- 
mental elements,  rather  than  in  his  doing  a  large  amount 
of  discursive  reading.  In  his  homiletical  criticisms,  he 
would  pick  the  student's  thought  to  pieces,  and  in  Hebrew 
he  would  do  the  same  for  the  student's  constructions,  to  the 
enjoyment  and  instruction  of  the  other  students,  but  to  the 
consternation  of  the  individual  himself.  He  did  not  believe 
in  ' '  handling  anyone  with  kid  gloves. ' '  By  heroic  treat- 
ment he  hoped  to  arouse  the  student  to  a  thorough  master}' 
of  elemental  principles,  to  independent  production  of  thought, 
and  to  a  self-criticism  of  that  which  is  superficial  and  false. 
He  was  never  satisfied  unless  he  had  conveyed  the  inner 
ground  and  substance  of  the  thing,  and  he  laid  very  little 
weight  upon  any  external  paraphernalia,  except  in  such 
cases,  as,  for  instance,  occurred  in  Symbolics,  when  a  rigid 
adherence  to  outer  form  of  statement  was  absolutely  neces- 
sary to  accuracy.  His  examination  questions  consequently 
were  simple  and  easy  to  one  who  firmly  grasped  the  subject, 
but  almost  fatal  to  one  who  had  only  a  confused  idea  of  the 
branch  in  question. 

He  made  careful  and  minute  preparation  for  his  lectures 
and  recitations,  and  came  to  them  overflowing  with  the 


126  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

subject.  He  had  successfully  reduced  the  complex  elements 
of  Hebrew  to  their  lowest  and  simplest  terms,  so  that  the 
student  who  understood  him  and  paid  strict  attention,  and 
who  put  Dr.  Mann's  favorite  maxim  into  practice,  namely, 
"  Repetitio  mater  literarum  est, "  would  make  surprising 
progress  in  a  few  days. 

In  Ethics,  Homiletics  and  Hebrew,  his  method  of  teach- 
ing was  entirely  extempore^  but  in  his  lectures  on  Sym- 
bolics he  read  from  a  manuscript  filled  with  beautifully 
written  microscopic  characters,  and  most  carefully  and  con- 
scientiously prepared,  but  digressed  in  the  course  of  the 
lecture  into  important  and  striking  illustrations  of  the 
principle  under  discussion.  Dr.  Mann's  illustrations, 
drawn  from  every  range  of  learning,  life,  history,  nature 
and  experience,  were  exceedingly  illuminative  and  fasci- 
nating. 

As  an  illustration  of  his  method,  we  may  take  one  of  his 
lectures  on  Homiletics,  of  May  17,  1882,  given  by  him 
quite  informally,  on,    "To  Preach,  and.  What  to  Preach  :" 

"  To  preach  is  one  of  the  most  important  functions  of  the 
clerical  office.  Almost  everyone  can  learn  to  read  liturgi- 
cally  ;  or  to  teach,  for  the  material  is  given  to  the  teacher; 
but  only  the  preacher  can  preach.  He  must  be  an  orator, 
a  popular  orator  ;  a  theologian — master  of  the  Scriptures — 
a  theologian  of  the  heart,  calculated  to  edify,  convince, 
wake  up. 

' '  What  to  Preach  ?  The  Word,  the  eternal  revealed  truth 
about  our  salvation — the  relation  to  God  and  his  revelation 
in  Christ.     The  Text,  not  the  whole  Word,  but  this  Word. 

1.  The  text  must  be  understood  in  its  specific  meaning. 
When,  e.  g.,  the  text  plainly  refers  to  poverty  in  worldly 
goods,  do  not  speak  about  being  pure  in  spirit.  When  the 
text  plainly  refers  to  a  righteous,  just  dealing  with  our  fel- 
low-man, do  not  elucidate  the  righteousness  in  a  dogmatical 
sense. 

2.  The  specific  language  of  the  text  must  be  used  as 


WORK  AS  PROFESSOR. 


127 


giving  a  specific  character  to  the  sermon.  When,  e.  g., 
the  text  speaks  of  a  pearl,  of  light,  of  the  sun,  of  weeds, 
of  a  grain  of  wheat,  of  salt,  enter  into  the  nature,  qualities, 
effects,  applications  of  just  these  things.  Do  not  deal  in 
doctrinal  generalities  and  trite  truisms — and  you  will  find, 
that  the  Bible  is  an  inexhaustible  fountain  of  ever  new, 
ever  refreshing  truth. 

3.  Do  not  make  your  text  simply  the  starting  point  for 
a  series  of  sentiments,  principles,  admonitions,  which  have 
no  direct  connection  with  the  specific  meaning  of  the 
text.  Your  sermon  must  grow  out  of  the  text,  not  some- 
where in  the  distance  from  it. 

4.  In  the  elucidation  of  your  text  have  an  eye  to  those 
elements,  suggestions,  sentiments,  truths  in  it,  which  will 
be  calculated  to  benefit,  edify,  instruct,  confirm  in  the 
truth,  to  quicken  the  congregation  as  it  is.  ]\Iuch  may  be 
true  and  good,  but  it  may  not  be  properly  adapted  to  the 
congregation.  The  preacher  must  have  a  sensus  comiminis. 
He  must  be  a  conscious  reflex  of  the  congregation  and  its 
spiritual  condition.  He  must  know,  in  which  form  he  can 
best  give  them  their  spiritual  food. 

5.  Refer  the  words,  and  the  terms  and  the  truths  of  the 
text  to  the  various  conditions  of  man.  Let  the  light  of 
the  Word  shine  into  the  recesses  of  their  hearts,  the  habits 
of  their  lives,  the  various  conditions,  under  which  they  are 
in  this  world  ;  the  tortuous  ways  of  sin,  the  miseries  of  a 
wicked  career,  the  blessings  of  a  godly  walk  and  conversa- 
tion, the  future  existence,  etc.     Let  light  drive  out  darkness. 

6.  When  you  make  your  sermon,  allow  the  text  first  to 
preach  to  you.  You  are  "  one  of  them."  You  ought  first 
to  feel  the  two-edged  sword  in  your  heart.  This  is  the 
proper  way,  to  give  you  the  proper  sympathy  with  others. 

7.  Do  not  trouble  yourself  much  about  the  "  Thema." 
In  hunting  after  a  thema  many  a  man  lost  the  real  nerve 
of  the  text.  Elucidate  and  apply  your  text  practically. 
Perhaps  all  at  once  a  thema  will  be  found.      If  not,   no 


128  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

matter — if  only  justice  is  done  to  tlie  text  and  througli  it 
to  the  souls. 

8.  Sink  yourself,  when  preparing  the  sermon,  in  God. 
Forget  everything  but  that  text — the  truth  you  intend  to 
make  great  and  weighty  before  the  congregation.  In 
preparing,  let  your  thoughts  be  concentrated ;  in  preaching, 
your  will. ' ' 

I  have  chosen  this  illustration  of  Dr.  Mann's  method  as 
a  teacher,  because  it  is  so  characteristic  of  his  mind,  as  a 
whole,  and  of  his  methods  and  activities  in  all  departments. 
True  doctrine,  natural  logic,  informal  manner,  wide  view, 
deep  piety,  intense  human  feeling,  thoroughly  modern 
spirit  and  expression.  It  was  this  latter  modernness  of 
spirit,  this  taking  up  of  the  life  of  the  present,  this  sympa- 
thy with  American  institutions  and  ideas,  this  willingness 
to  start  out  from  the  present,  in  spite  of  his  vast  historical 
knowledge  of  the  past  and  of  his  love  of  speculation  as  to 
the  future,  which  enabled  him  to  touch  the  living  chord  in 
the  hearts  of  young  men.  He  was  himself  ever  young. 
And  it  was  this  appreciation  of  the  value  of  the  individual, 
of  the  subjective  and  personal,  that  caused  him  to  sympa- 
thize with,  and  love  and  give  time  and  pains  to  each  student 
separately,  rather  than  regard  them  as  a  whole  collectively 
in  a  class.  He  was  willing  to  single  out  and  deal  with  the 
individual  student,  at  any  stage  of  progress,  and  to  spend 
pains  on  him,  if  the  individual  in  return  would  respond  to 
his  efforts  and  show  any  sign  of  upward  development.  His 
warm-heartedness  and  love  for  the  students,  his  unselfish 
impulses  and  motives,  his  manly  frankness  and  true  spirit- 
uality, have  left  a  deep  stamp  on  many  souls,  and  in  many 
pulpits,  being  dead,  he  still  speaketh. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

PASTORAL  WORK.     1869-1884. 

ON  the  I4tli  of  January,  1869,  Dr.  Mann  was  elected  pas- 
tor of  St.  ]\Iatthew's  Lutheran  Congregation,  of  New 
York,  though  he  had  declined  to  become  a  candidate  or  to 
preach  for  the  congregation.  This  charge  was  a  large  and 
important  one,  and  had  been  for  many  years  under  the  care 
of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stohlmann,  the  beloved  friend  of  Dr. 
Mann,  whose  death  had  occurred  in  May  of  the  preceding 
year.  Dr.  Mann's  diary  says:  "On  Monday,  Januar\^  i8th 
(my  good  father's  birthday),  a  deputation  from  St.  Mat- 
thew's— six  laymen  and  the  Rev.  Baden — came  to  lay  the 
call  to  that  church  before  me,  and  to  convince  me  that  I 
ought  to  accept  it.  But  I  withstood  a  three  hours'  bom- 
bardment and  did  not  move.  Finally,  I  gave  this  ultima- 
tum :  I  said  that  I  would  accept  if  the  Board  of  Directors  of 
the  Seminary  and  my  Vestry  came  to  the  conclusion  that  I 
could  do  more  good  in  New  York  than  in  Philadelphia. ' ' 

Neither  the  seminary  nor  the  congregation  were  willing 
to  allow  the  claims  of  St.  Matthew's,  and  when,  in  Feb- 
ruary, another  delegation  from  that  congregation  desired 
to  confer  with  the  vestry  of  St.  Michael's  and  Zion,  they  re- 
ceived a  telegram  stating  that  on  the  question  of  Dr. 
Mann's  departure  from  Philadelphia  no  conference  could  be 
granted  them,  and  that  a  meeting  with  the  view  of  accom- 
plishing this  object  would  be  of  no  avail. 

On  the  i6th  of  January,  1869,   Dr.  Mann's  mother  fell 
peacefully  asleep  in  Jesus  after  a  short  but  severe  illness. 
Her  youngest  son  and  his  wife,  sojourning  in  the  Stuttgart 
9  129 


130  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

home  to  rest  from  tlieir  missionary  labors  in  Africa,  were 
with  her  during  the  last  months  of  her  life,  and  in  her  last 
illness. 

"I  should  have  been  prepared  for  this,"  writes  Dr. 
Mann,  "for  a  long  time,  for  my  dear  mother  was  nearly 
seventy-nine  years  old  and  I  knew  that  she  was  very  sick. 
I  feel  that,  indeed,  a  heavy  loss  has  befallen  me.  She  was 
endowed  with  uncommon  gifts,  and  had  a  heart  full  of  love 
and  sympathy.  She  was  a  mother  in  the  tenderest  sense  of 
the  word,  and  with  her  great  soul  and  her  deep  interest  in 
all  questions  of  abiding  value,  and  her  enthusiasm  for 
Christ  and  His  kingdom,  she  always  inspired  me  afresh 
with  love  for  His  great  cause.  All  my  dear  ones  mourn 
with  me.  What  happy  hours  we  spent  little  more  than  a 
year  ago  on  our  visit  to  the  dear  grandmother  in  Stuttgart!" 

In  the  spring  of  1871,  the  family  circle  in  Philadelphia 
suffered  the  loss  of  Mrs.  Mann's  father.  Mr.  Rommel  was 
the  beloved  friend,  counselor  and  guide  of  his  children,  and 
to  his  grandchildren  he  was  the  most  companionable  play- 
fellow. In  their  nursery  books,  some  of  which  survive  to- 
day, are  the  rhymes  he  composed  as  Christmas  or  birthday 
wishes  for  his  little  folks.  An  invalid  for  the  greater  part 
of  the  last  two  years  of  his  life,  he  was  always  full  of  the 
"peace  that  passeth  understanding."  The  estimate  of  his 
character  and  influence  contained  in  Dr.  Mann's  diary  on 
the  day  of  his  death,  March  10,  1871,  I  cannot  forbear 
quoting:  "My  father-in-law  was  one  of  the  most  worthy, 
one  of  the  best  men  I  ever  knew,  firm  in  his  religious  con- 
victions, warm  in  his  affections,  upright  in  his  whole  walk 
and  conversation,  an  enemy  to  sham,  pretence  and  hy- 
pocrisy ;  he  was  a  German  of  the  old  sterling  type,  indus- 
trious, quiet,  unobtrusive,  humble,  with  a  large  amount  of 
good  practical  common  sense,  submissive  in  afiliction,  trust- 
ing in  God  and  His  love  in  Christ.  Of  a  mind,  I  might 
say,  naturally  theological,  he  was  not  a  man  of  the  world  ; 
but  devoted  himself  to  his  family,  doing  his  very  best  for  the 


PASTORAL   WORK. 


131 


Christian  education  of  his  children,  beloved  in  the  fullest 
sense  of  the  word  by  them  and  the  grandchildren.  He  was 
esteemed  throughout  the  church  and  revered  in  our  congre- 
gation, having  been  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  vestry, 
and  having  taken  through  life  the  deepest  interest  in  the 
Sunday-school,  of  which  he  was  superintendent  for  thirty 
years.  I  have  known  few  men  who  had  a  better  knowledge 
of  the  Word  of  God  and  of  the  way  of  salvation;  I  know  none 
who  was  better  acquainted  with  our  grand  old  German  hymn- 
olog}',  nor  have  I  known  any  one  who  could  better  judge  of 
a  sermon,  or  the  qualifications  of  a  preacher.  There  was  a 
kind  of  a  dry  humor  about  him,  and  in  former  years, 
especially,  he  was  ver>'  merr>'  in  the  family,  but  he  did  not 
care  for  many  friends  outside  of  his  immediate  circle.  He 
liked  to  begin  the  day  by  singing  ch  orals,  and  often  he  ac- 
companied himself  on  the  piano,  an  art  he  learned  from  me 
when  I  first  became  acquainted  with  my  dear  wife's  family. 

"There  was  joy  in  our  house  whenever  he  came  to  see  us, 
which  in  the  days  of  health  he  did  very  frequently.  My 
children  thought  and  think  the  world  of  their  good  grand- 
father. He  was  a  blessing  to  all  of  us!  Since  the  good 
man  has  gone  to  his  rest,  I  feel  that  life  has  less  value  to 
me. ' ' 

From  1868  to  1870,  the  Mother  Congregation  worshipped 
in  old  St.  IMichael's  Church  at  the  corner  of  Fifth  and 
Cherry  Streets,  and  during  these  years  a  new  church  was  in 
process  of  erection,  on  the  ground  occupied  by  the  former 
cemetery  on  Franklin  Street,  between  Race  and  Vine. 

Dr.  ]\Iann  always  enjoyed  a  retrospect  of  the  two  years  in 
which  services  were  held  in  the  venerable  St.  Michael's 
Church.  There  were  so  many  hallowed  associations  con- 
nected with  the  old  building,  and  beside  that,  there  was  a 
feeling  of  individual  ownership  that  both  pastor  and  people 
enjoyed,  since  the  younger  congregations  were  separate  or- 
ganizations, under  their  own  government  and  worshipping 
in  their  own  churches.    The  capacity  of  the  old  building  dur- 


132  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN, 

ing  these  years  was  often  taxed  to  its  utmost,  for  it  seated 
only  about  seven  hundred  persons,  and  though  so  many 
branches  of  the  old  church  were  flourishing  in  different 
parts  of  the  city,  St.  Michael's  and  Zion's  congregation  still 
numbered  about  nine  hundred  communicant  members. 

On  the  loth  of  May,  1869,  the  corner  stone  of  the  new 
Zion  Church  was  laid  with  impressive  ceremonies.  The 
building,  a  fine  structure  of  brown  sandstone  in  Roman- 
esque style,  erected  at  a  cost  of  somewhat  more  than 
;^ 1 00, 000,  is  72  feet  wide,  no  feet  long  and  with  a  seating 
capacity  of  1200.  The  steeple  is  186  feet  high  and  has  a 
fine  clock  and  a  bell,  for  which  Dr.  Mann  wrote  the  inscrip- 
tion :  ^'' J/oco  vocatos^''''  "I  call  the  called."  At  the  same 
time  a  parsonage,  south  of  the  church,  and  a  parochial 
school-house,  north  of  it,  were  erected. 

Dr.  Mann's  interest  in  the  church  while  in  process  of 
erection  was  naturally  very  great.  On  his  way  to  or  from 
the  Seminary,  which  was  within  sixty  yards  of  the  new 
church,  he  always  inspected  the  progress  of  the  building, 
and  often  climbed  to  some  commanding  position  on  the 
scaffolding  the  better  to  enjoy  the  prospect. 

September  nth,  1870,  the  beautiful,  new  church  was  ded- 
icated in  the  presence  of  an  immense  concourse  of  people, 
the  seating  and  standing  capacity  of  the  building  being 
fully  tested.  Dr.  G.  F.  Krotel  of  New  York  preached  the 
dedicatory  sermon  on  Luke  10:  23,  24. 

The  Sunday-school  participated  in  the  joyful  occasion, 
having  a  special  children' s  service  in  the  afternoon.  There 
were  services  in  the  newly  dedicated  building  on  the  suc- 
ceeding Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday  evenings,  in 
which  the  majority  of  Lutherans  of  Philadelphia,  both  Ger- 
man and  English,  participated  in  the  joy  of  the  Mother 
Congregation  in  entering  into  the  new  and  beautiful  Zion. 

The  succeeding  fourteen  years  of  Dr.  Mann's  life  were 
devoted  to  his  pastoral  charge,  his  lectures  at  the  Seminary, 
and  to  literary  and  philanthropic  labors. 


PASTORAL   WORK.  133 

For  a  quarter  of  a  ceiitiir}',  he  had  at  this  time  been 
preaching  in  Philadelphia,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a  few 
years  in  the  beginning,  had  been  at  tlie  same  congregation. 
But  there  was  no  diminution  in  the  size  of  his  audiences, 
and  his  well-filled  church  was  a  source  of  great  encourage- 
ment to  him. 

Indeed,  the  new  church,  which  he  had  considered  too 
large  while  building,  proved  to  be  not  too  commodious  for 
the  congregation  which  regularly  filled  it.  An  old  mem- 
ber who  came  about  three  miles  every  Sunday  morning  to 
worship  in  Zion  Church,  said  :  "  It  is  rather  far  for  me  in  cold 
weather ;  but  if  I  hear  Dr.  Mann's  sermon,  it  always  helps 
me  to  bear  the  cares  and  trials  of  the  week  ;  so  I  never  fail  to 
be  in  my  place."  There  were  many  who  felt  as  she  did, 
and  consequently  the  church  was  not  too  large,  though  it 
seated  1200  persons. 

One  cold  cloudy  Sunday  morning  in  November,  in  '77 
or  78,  the  Philadelphia  Press  sent  a  reporter  to  each  of  the 
prominent  churches  of  Philadelphia,  to  count  the  number 
of  people  attending  the  service.  Dr.  Mann  was  surprised, 
next  day,  when  told  of  this  by  one  of  his  colleagues  at  the 
Seminary,  and  to  hear  that  he  had  had  more  listeners  than 
any  other  Protestant  divine  in  the  city. 

The  devotion  and  love  of  his  people  was  really  touching, 
and  to  his  loving,  sympathetic  heart  this  beautiful  relation 
was  a  great  stimulus  and  a  constant  encouragement.  He 
had  ministered  so  long  in  the  congregation,  that  often,  in 
his  classes  of  catechumens,  he  had  young  people  whose 
parents  he  had  christened,  confirmed  and  married,  and  in 
many  cases  he  had  known  and  ministered  to  the  grand 
parents.  A  relation  extending  in  this  way  from  one  genera- 
tion to  another  was  naturally  very  close,  and  the  family 
history,  the  joys,  the  sorrows,  the  experiences  of  life,  of  his 
members,  all  familiar  to  him,  Dr.  Mann  verily  had,  as  he 
said  in  his  farewell  sermon  to  his  congregation  in  1884, 
"rejoiced  with  them  that  did  rejoice  and  wept  with  them 


134  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

that  wept. ' '  And  tliey  appreciated  his  love  and  showed  in 
a  thousand  ways  that  they  returned  his  affection. 

During  these  years  when  the  difficulties,  that  the  tem- 
poral affairs  of  the  congregation  had  caused,  were  matters 
of  the  past,  when  more  than  ever  the  relation  to  his  people 
was  that  of  a  highly  esteemed  friend,  when  in  every  family 
in  the  parish  he  was  looked  upon  as  the  wisest,  best  coun- 
cillor and  the  most  honored  visitor,  it  is  not  surprising,  that 
he  often  writes  :  "I  am  ver>^  happy  with  my  people. ' '  And 
in  1875,  before  his  departure  to  Europe,  on  a  summer  jour- 
ney, he  notes  :  "  I  have  been  going  about  during  the  last  two 
weeks,  to  bid  farewell  to  my  members, — a  serious  matter 
when  the  thermometer  is  above  90°.  But  the  kindness 
and  appreciation  invariably  shown  me  make  it,  after  all,  a 
pleasant  thing. ' ' 

As  a  novice  at  preaching,  shortly  after  becoming  assistant 
pastor  in  Boennigheim  in  1843,  Dr.  Mann  had  set  himself 
the  ideal  of  a  preacher,  when  he  wrote  :  "  It  is  of  the  high- 
est value  in  preaching  to  present  the  deepest  spiritual  and 
intellectual  truths  in  the  simplest,  plainest  words  of  every- 
day life."  This  aim,  in  the  long  years  of  his  work  as  a 
preacher,  he  had  unfalteringly  kept  in  view  ;  and  he,  in- 
deed, attained  his  ideal. 

His  grasp  of  his  text  was  deep,  original  and  practical, 
and  opened  up  trains  of  suggestive  thought.  It  was  re- 
markable that  he  could  so  persistently  draw  upon  himself 
His  difficulty  was  not  so  much  to  produce  material,  as  to 
select  those  thoughts  which  bore  most  directly  upon  his 
theme.  He  never  used  manuscript  or  notes  in  the  pulpit ; 
but,  in  his  preparation,  wrote  a  very  full  analysis  of  his 
sermon,  bringing  to  paper  all  the  main  lines  of  thought, 
though  not  the  material  or  illustrations  that  enlarged  or 
exemplified  them.  Sometimes  it  was  not  easy  to  detect  in 
his  sermons  that  he  was  so  learned  a  man  ;  for  he  rarely 
quoted  the  Church  Fathers  or  other  ancient  authors,  and 
technicalities  and  abstract  ideas  he  carefully  avoided.     In 


PASTORAL  WORK.  I  35 

citations  from  the  Bible,  his  discourses  were  rich.  His 
ilhistratioiis  were  very  happy,  and  were  often  drawn  from 
every  day  life,  from  the  personal  experience  of  his  hearers, 
and  oftener  still,  from  nature  and  her  various  manifesta- 
tions. 

In  his  accurate  and  searching  thought,  his  rich,  personal 
Christian  experience,  the  simplicity  of  his  language,  as 
well  as  in  his  knowledge  of  the  human  heart,  its  weaknesses 
and  its  needs,  he  made  the  great,  saving  truths  of  Christian- 
ity come  home  powerfully  and  practically  to  his  hearers. 
"  If  a  sermon  does  not  make  a  man  determine  to  lead  a  bet- 
ter life,  and  does  not  present  Christ  as  the  great  loving  Sa- 
viour of  humanity,  it  had  better  not  be  preached  !"  he  used 
to  say.  The  learned  came  to  hear  him,  and  the  simple  and 
uncultured  could  grasp  the  truth  as  he  presented  it.  His 
eloquence  was  of  that  magnetic  kind  that  went  straight  to 
the  heart,  and  made  one  forget  the  orator  in  the  earnestness 
and  power  of  the  message  he  brought.  How  wonderfully 
he  portrayed  the  joy  of  the  Christian  life,  its  painful  strug- 
gles, its  slow,  gradual  growth  ;  and  how  convincingly  and 
joyfully  he  witnessed  of  Christ's  love  and  teaching.  His  life 
and  passion,  as  the  source  of  all  peace,  and  joy  and  hope,  for 
time  and  for  eternity!  Truly,  he  preached  "Christ  and 
Him  crucified"  and  he  found  the  theme  inexhaustible  ! 

It  was  remarkable  that  he  so  often  preached  entirely  dif- 
ferent sermons  on  the  same  text.  He  loved  the  gospels  of 
the  Church  Year,  and  nearly  always  took  his  text  on  Sunday 
mornings  from  the  gospel  for  the  day.  In  the  richness  and 
fullness  of  those  words,  he  found  so  much  suggestive 
thought  that  he  sometimes  took  in  successive  years  the 
identical  words  for  his  text,  and  yet  preached  an  entirely 
different  and  original  sermon  each  time.  Only  the  careful 
and  exhaustive  study  of  a  mind,  vigorous,  original  and 
remarkably  productive  could  accomplish  this.  In  the  long 
years  of  his  ministry,  he  never  preached  the  same  sermon 
twice. 


136  MEMOIR  OP  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

The  growth  of  the  Sunday-school  in  the  new  Zion 
Church  was  remarkable.  There  were  only  four  hundred 
children  in  the  school  when  the  new  church  was  dedicated. 
Three  years  later,  the  names  of  eleven  hundred  children 
were  on  the  roll,  and  at  Christmas  about  thirteen  hundred 
children  attended  the  festival.  Not  only  the  lower  halls  of 
the  church  were  required  to  accommodate  the  scholars,  but 
the  Bible  class  had  to  meet  in  the  church  proper,  and  for  the 
infant  class,  one  of  the  rooms  of  the  parochial  school  build- 
ing, north  of  the  church,  was  appropriated. 

Dr.  Mann  took  the  greatest  interest  in  the  school,  and 
his  spirit  was  felt  throughout  its  workings.  He  often  con- 
ducted the  opening  services  ;  every  Sunday,  he  visited  the 
various  departments,  the  school  being  divided  into  four  di- 
visions. If  here  or  there  a  teacher  was  absent.  Dr.  Mann 
liked  to  take  the  class.  In  that  way,  he  could  tell  what  the 
individual  classes  and  teachers  were  accomplishing.  At  the 
teachers'  meetings,  he  introduced  prompt,  parliamentary 
methods  of  discussing  and  disposing  of  questions,  and  he  was 
careful  not  to  have  his  young  people  detained  longer  than 
was  absolutely  necessary,  neither  in  the  school  nor  at  the 
meetings.  He  insisted  upon  beginning  promptly,  and  he 
encouraged  the  teachers  to  work  indefatigably  while  the 
session  lasted ;  but  at  half  after  three  he  liked  the  school 
dismissed.  He  knew  that  most  of  the  teachers  attended 
the  morning  and  evening  service,  and  he  thought  it  right 
that  they  should  have  some  hours  of  the  afternoon  to  rest. 
The  quiet  and  orderliness  of  the  large  mass  of  children  was 
always  remarked  by  visitors.  How  many  little  hands  Dr. 
Mann  shook,  as  he  stood  at  the  door  at  which  the  children 
passed  out  after  the  session,  his  very  presence  preserving  a 
proper  decorum  among  them,  it  would  be  difficult  to  say. 
All  the  children  knew  and  loved  him,  and  were  often  made 
happy  by  some  special  word  or  message  from  him. 

In  the  preparations  for  the  Christmas  festival  and  the  an- 
niversary  in   September,    in   decorating  the  church  with 


PASTORAL  WORK.  I37 

greens  and  flowers,  Dr.  Mann  always  mingled  with  the 
young  people  and  assisted  them  by  actively  taking  part  in 
the  work,  or  suggesting  and  advising  here  and  there,  as 
the  circumstances  seemed  to  require.  His  happy,  often  hu- 
morous remarks,  his  whole-souled  interest,  his  geniality  and 
his  personal  supervision  and  presence  were  of  course  much 
appreciated  by  the  workers  in  the  Sunday-school ;  and  he 
was  with  them  as  a  matter  of  principle,  at  the  same  time, 
knowing  in  the  closer  acquaintance  which  such  hours 
brought,  his  young  people  became  better  acquainted  with 
him,  and  here  and  there  a  word  of  guidance  or  encourage- 
ment was  aptly  spoken. 

The  parochial  school,  in  which  the  congregation  and  its 
pastor  were  particularly  blessed  by  the  faithful  and  long- 
continued  labors  of  the  head-master,  Mr.  J.  C.  Haas,  also 
flourished  in  the  new  school  building.  Mr.  Haas  was,  at 
the  same  time,  the  organist  of  the  congregation,  and  filled 
these  two  positions  for  more  than  forty  years,  taking  an  ac- 
tive interest  in  all  congregational  and  Sunday-school  work, 
and  leaving,  indeed,  a  blessed  memor>'. 

During  these  years,  the  diary,  especially  in  the  autumn 
or  the  first  months  of  the  year,  occasionally  contains  some 
remark  about  the  pressure  of  business.  He  writes  :  "  I  am 
over-burdened  with  work,"  or  "Teaching  the  students, 
preaching  to  my  people,  working  and  writing,  I  have  my 
hands  full."  "My  class  of  eighty-eight  catechumens  de- 
mands much  time  and  strength,  and  I  am  working  very 
hard."  But  he  was  enabled  to  write  also,  "My  health  is 
better  than  it  formerly  was,  and  I  can  stand  more  than  I 
could  twenty  years  ago!"  and  again,  "My  people  tell  me 
I  look  stronger  than  ever  before!"  Only  an  unusual 
amount  of  strength  and  energy,  with  the  early  morning 
hours  from  five  to  eight  devoted  to  study  and  literar}'  work, 
and  a  scrupulously  systematic  division  of  time,  could  have 
enabled  him  to  accomplish  all  the  work  he  did. 

Ver}^  frequently,  Dr.  Mann  was  also  called  upon  during 


138  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

these  years  to  lecture,  either  in  Philadelphia  or  some  neigh- 
boring city  or  town,  for  the  benefit  of  a  congregation  or  an 
institution  belonging  to  the  church.  He  did  not  like  to 
refuse  these  requests,  though  they  caused  considerable  ex- 
penditure of  time  and  strength.  He  lectured  several  times 
in  different  localities  on  the  "Franco-Prussian  War," 
"Germany  in  the  World's  History,"  "London,"  "The 
Turkish  Question,"  "Heinrich  Melchior  Muhlenberg  and 
his  Times,"  and  other  topics. 

The  routine  of  work  during  these  3'ears  was  interrupted 
by  a  short  journey  with  his  family  during  the  summer  va- 
cation, or  was  sometimes  happily  broken  in  upon  at  a 
busier  season  by  a  few  days'  visit  from  a  friend. 

In  the  summer  of  '73,  a  very  pleasant  trip,  which  the 
diary  calls  "one  of  the  bright  spots  in  life,"  was  underta- 
ken with  his  family  and  Dr.  and  Mrs.  John  Rommel  and 
two  of  their  children.  The  route  led  by  way  of  Williams- 
port  and  Watkin's  Glen  to  Niagara,  where  several  delight- 
ful days  were  spent.  Dr.  Mann,  an  enthusiast  for  the 
charms  of  nature,  was  always  particularly  happy  among 
the  majestic  beauties  of  Niagara.  The  party  then  visited 
Saratoga,  Lake  George,  the  Catskills  and  West  Point, 
making  a  short  stay  at  each  of  these  attractive  places. 

In  1876,  Dr.  Mann  was  in  New  England  for  the  first 
time,  and  paid  an  interesting  visit  to  Boston  and  the  White 
Mountains. 

In  succeeding  years,  he  liked  to  spend  a  short  time  in 
the  summer  at  Lake  Minnewaska,  in  the  state  of  New  York, 
where  he  enjoyed  the  picturesqueness  of  the  scener>^,  the 
intercourse  with  congenial  companions,  and  where  espe- 
cially, also,  he  was  happy  in  the  meeting  with  his  dear 
friends,  Dr.  Philip  Schaff  and  Mr.  Gustav  Schwab. 

The  Centennial  Exposition,  which  brought  so  many  vis- 
itors to  Philadelphia,  gave  also  to  Dr.  Mann  occasion  to 
greet  many  friends  from  far  and  near.  He  made  some 
very  interesting  acquaintances,  and  among  them  he  always 


PASTORAL   WORK.  1 39 

remembered  with  especial  pleasure  Professor  Bnigscli  Bey, 
the  Egyptologist,  and  Count  von  Aruim,  a  Prussian  officer, 
who  had  served  in  the  wars  of '66  and  '70,  and  who  with 
his  charming  wife,  a  Countess  Bismark-Bohlen,  paid  some 
ver}-  pleasant  visits  at  the  house.  They  were  much  inter- 
ested in  the  American  people,  and  made  a  study  of  their  cus- 
toms, being  especially  interested  also  in  the  American 
home-life. 

In  the  spring  of  '78,  Dr.  ]\Iann  was  prostrated  by  a  se- 
vere attack  of  bronchitis  and  neuralgia.  For  five  weeks  he 
suffered  intensely  and,  after  his  recover}-,  was  troubled  for 
a  time  with  dullness  of  hearing.  He  preached  and  admin- 
istered the  Lord's  Supper  for  the  first  time  after  his  illness 
at  Whitsuntide.  During  the  following  summer,  w-hen  he 
sought  change  and  recreation  at  the  Delaware  Water  Gap, 
he  entirely  lecovered  his  accustomed  vigor. 

During  the  thirteen  years  of  his  residence  in  the  parson- 
age. Dr.  ]\Iann's  study  was  a  fine,  large  room  in  the  church. 
The  window  facing  the  south  was  beautified  by  blooming 
plants,  in  the  midst  of  which  stood  a  large  aquarium.  His 
tame  canary  flitted  in  and  out  among  the  green  leaves,  and 
sometimes  when  he  sat  quietly  writing,  lighted  on  his 
shoulder  or  hopped  about  before  him  on  the  desk. 

The  central  location  and  the  proximity  of  the  Seminar}^ 
made  it  natural  that  his  study  became  a  sort  of  rendezvous 
for  the  clergy.  The  Monday  Morning  Pastoral  Association 
met  there,  and  frequently,  also,  the  meetings  of  the  Fac- 
ulty of  the  Seminary  took  place  in  that  room,  where  he 
spent  many  an  hour,  early  and  late,  alone  in  the  great 
building,  deep  in  study  and  thought. 


CHAPTER   XVI. 

JOURNEY  TO  EUROPE  IN  1875. 

IN  the  summer  of  '75,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  with  Dr. 
and  Mrs.  John  Rommel,  and  one  of  their  sons,  took 
a  trip  to  Europe,  visiting  Ireland,  Scotland,  England  ;  and 
on  the  Continent,  Germany,  Switzerland  and  northern 
France. 

After  his  return,  Dr.  Mann,  with  astonishing  labor  and 
industr}^,  in  view  of  all  the  other  work  he  carried  on  at  the 
same  time,  wrote  from  his  diary  a  volume  of  nearly  three- 
hundred  pages  descriptive  of  the  summer's  journey.  The 
manuscript,  handsomely  bound  and  dedicated  to  Mrs.  Mann, 
was  presented  to  her  as  a  Christmas  gift.  The  following 
quotations  from  this  diary  will  serve  as  an  account  of  the 
journey,  and  will  also  give  Dr.  Mann's  impressions  of  some 

of  the  scenes  visited. 

"  S.  S.  Indiana,  July  2. 

"The  weather  is  fine.  Our  ladies  are  on  deck.  I  am 
fortunate  enough  to  have  a  number  of  clergymen  as  fellow 
travellers :  Dr.  McCloskey  of  Princeton,  Rev.  Mr.  Monroe 
and  Rev.  Mr.  Sharpe  of  our  city  and  Rev.  Mr.  Hamilton 
of  New  York,  all  Presbyterians.  A  great  deal  of  conver- 
sation is  carried  on  among  us  theologians  on  the  various 
questions  which  form  the  subjects  of  literary  discussion  at 
present :  materialism,  Berkleyism  and  pantheism  come  in 
for  their  share  in  our  debates.  The  brethren,  all  of  them 
younger  men  than  I  am,  treat  me  with  much  fraternal  re- 
spect, and  we  are  all  very  sympathetic.  I  hold  my  own 
ground  as  a  German  and  a  Lutheran ;  and  I  enjoy  the  talk, 
for  I  find  my  friends  have  thorough  information  on  many 
topics. 

140 


JOURNEY   TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  ^41 

"  July  6. 
"  Soon  after  4  o'clock  this  morning,  we  had  the  sensa- 
tional news  that  there  were  icebergs  in  sight.  Before  long, 
we  were  on  deck.  There  were  about  fifteen  visible,  some 
near,  some  far  off,  and  some  quite  large.  There  they  lay, 
these  strangers  from  the  far  North,  seemingly  so  quiet  and 
so  hannless,  some  like  large  domes,  some  like  marble  sar- 
cophagi ;  but  all  of  them  dangerous  fellows,  especially  in  a 
dark  night,  a  heavy  fog,  or  a  strong  gale. 

"  July  7. 

"After  lunch,  the  engineer  took  us  to  the  engine-room, 
and  even  to  those  low  and  dark  regions  around  the  fur- 
naces and  steam  chests.  There  everything  is  iron,  fire, 
coal  and  steam.  The  men  seemed  pleased  with  our  visit, 
and  gave  unmistakable  signs  that  they  expected  some  grat- 
ification from  us,  a  wish  which  we  happier  beings  from  the 
upper  regions  willingly  granted.  All  that  was  explained 
to  us  about  the  machinery  and  its  many  and  wonderful  con- 
trivances was  most  interesting.  But  I,  for  one,  not  having 
the  necessary  knowledge  of  mechanical  engineering,  could 
well  be  astonished  at  much  that  I  saw,  without  being  able 
fully  to  comprehend. 

"July  ii. 

"Now,  half-past  4  o'clock,  A.  M.,  Ireland,  with  its  hills, 
precipitous  bluflfs,  green  fields  and  cottages  and  its  light- 
houses, lies  before  us  in  the  light  of  the  sun 

"KiLLARNEY,  July  12. 

"  On  the  route  from  Cork  to  Mallow,  we  passed  through 
a  waste  and  dreary  looking  country,  where  Irish  poverty 
seems  to  have  its  home.  We  saw  some  people  busy  on  the 
peat-bogs.  On  such  a  soil,  one  cannot  expect  a  dense 
population,  rather  might  we  desire  that  none  at  all  were 
trying  to  subsist  on  it.  Here  and  there,  we  observed 
houses,  with  small  patches  of  oats,  potatoes  and  grass. 
But  the  aspect  of  the  whole  was  distressing. 


142  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"Near  Killarney,  the  country  improves.  Its  mountains, 
rising  abruptly  from  the  level  ground,  are  visible  from  a 
considerable  distance.  In  the  vicinity  of  Killarney  the 
land  is  well  cultivated.  I  never  saw  finer  ornamental  and 
forest  trees,  than  around  the  lakes.  In  coming  from  Mal- 
low, I  noticed  in  a  small  garden,  a  cherry  and  an  apple  tree 
covered  with  very  promising  fruit.  But  this  was  very  ex- 
ceptional, which  is  the  more  astonishing,  as  there  is  no 
reason  why  fruit  trees  would  not  prosper  where  so  many 
forest  and  other  trees  flourish.  The  cultivation  of  orchards 
would  certainly  be  a  source  of  revenue  to  these  poor  people, 
who  in  truth  seem  to  need  help  in  all  directions.  For  a 
more  neglected,  squalid,  ragged  set  we  never  saw.  Nature 
is  charming  at  Killarney,  but  man  is  positively  vile.  Quite 
different  was  the  aspect  of  the  cattle,  of  which  we  saw  large 
herds,  and  among  them  many  fine  specimens 

"  Royal  Hotel,  Edinburgh,  July  15. 

"Loch  Lomond,  winding  around  rocky  islands  and  bold 
dark  mountains,  deserves  all  the  praise  poets  and  prosaic 
pilgrims  have  bestowed  upon  it.  It  has  a  touch  of  northern 
nature,  and  I  felt  that  this  is  the  land  and  the  climate  to 
produce  a  hardy,  energetic  race,  endowed  with  strong  qual- 
ities of  mind,  among  which  a  deep  sense  of  beauty  could 
not  be  wanting  ;  for  the  country  may  itself  be  called  a  grand 
poem  of  nature. 

' '  By  stage,  we  crossed  the  rugged  mountains,  and  arrived 
at  a  most  romantic  place  on  Lake  Katreen,  euphoniously 
named  Stranachlachar.  In  this  whole  region  we  observed 
with  how  much  pains  the  people  cultivated  flowers,  where 
the  soil  allowed  neither  cereals  nor  fruit  trees.  The  drive 
over  the  Trossachs  was  grand.  Limpid  streams  rush 
through  rocky  gorges.  The  mountains  are  bold,  massive 
and  present  fine  profiles.  It  is  a  sublime  and  lonely  region. 
On  the  eastern  slope  of  the  mountains,  we  noticed  quite  a 
decided  change.     The  country  is  better  populated,  the  soil 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  143 

is  tilled,  the  milder  climate  calls  forth  a  more  luxuriant 
vegetation,  and  combined  with  the  beauty  of  scenery,  at- 
tracts many  strangers,  who  rusticate  here  in  summer. 
From  a  mountain  lake  near  Collander,  Glasgow,  that  iron 
city  of  this  iron  age,  expects  to  receive  its  supply  of  fresh 

water. 

"  Edinburgh,  July  15. 

"We  have  been  charmed  by  this  queen  of  northern  cities! 
Its  antiquity  and  its  history,  its  relics  of  the  past  and  its 
superb  modern  buildings,  its  museums  and  institutions,  its 
romantic  situation, — all  combine  to  give  Edinburgh  rare 

and  numberless  charms I  have  seen  many 

fine  sights,  but  I  think  none  that  surpasses  the  view  from 
Observatory  Hill.  The  panorama  was  splendid  in  diver- 
sity and  in  color Turning  toward  the  old 

town  and  Castle,  we  passed  through  that  queer  main  street, 
with  its  old,  high,  uncomfortable-looking  houses,  in  one  of 

which  John  Knox  lived St.  Giles'  Church, 

divided  by  partitions  into  various  parts,  to  serv-e  various  de- 
nominations, is  a  type  of  Protestantism  in  our  day.  .  . 
.  .  .  We  saw  the  curiosities  of  the  Castle,  the  crown 
and  jewels  and  the  small  Norman  Chapel.  But  the  only 
truly  great  thing  here  is  the  view  from  this  high,  bold 
rock.  Morosely  does  the  old  building  look  out  from  this 
once  impregnable  position,  upon  the  land,  where  social 
changes  went  on  in  spite  of  the  lords  of  the  Castle.    .     .     . 


"York,  July  17. 

"The  interest  of  York  centres,  of  course,  in  the  Cathedral. 
It  broke  upon  us  as  a  sight  from  another  world,  certainly 
of  another  age.  Truly  it  is  a  mighty  structure,  immense 
all  over!  It  is  a  pity  that  the  organ  obstructs  the  view  in 
the  beautifully  proportioned  nave,  which  is  519  feet  long. 

"The  crypt  under  the  choir  is  highly  interesting.  It  is  in 
its  main  parts,  Norman;  but  we  saw  also  some  very  strange- 
looking  remnants  of  still  older  structure  in  Saxon  style,  dis- 


144  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

interred  some  years  ago  when  water-pipes  were  being  laid. 
The  chapter  house,  next  to  the  choir,  is  a  fine,  delicately- 
ornamented  Gothic  structure.  The  style  of  the  whole 
Cathedral,  with  its  square,  abruptly  terminating  towers,  is 
heavy,  as  all  Norman  Gothic  is.  But  the  beauty  of  the 
proportions,  the  simplicity  of  design  and  immensity  of  the 
whole  is  very  impressive,  especially  to  strangers  from  our 
country,  where  such  structures  are  thus  far  imknown.     .     . 


"Charing  Cross  Hotei.,  London,  July  i8. 

' '  To-day  we  heard  the  great  Spurgeon  preach  to  not  less 
than  five  thousand  people,  I  think.  We  were  seated  before 
the  great  crowd  poured  into  the  auditorium.  At  ii  o'clock 
Mr.  Spurgeon  entered ;  of  robust  frame  and  medium 
height,  he  has  not  the  appearance  of  a  literary  man ;  his 
face  is  broad  and  is  indicative  of  natural  sympathy,  good- 
heartedness,  energy  and  common  sense,  not  without  un- 
mistakable traces  of  humor. 

"He  kept  his  hearers  spell-bound  from  beginning  to  end. 
His  text  was  Job  xiii.  15.  'Though  he  slay  me,  yet  will 
I  trust  in  Him.'  In  his  opening  remarks,  he  said  that 
this  was  as  great  a  word  as  ever  fell  from  human  lips. 
Never  had  the  devil  received  a  better  answer  than  in  these 
words,  though  Job  did  not  know  then  that  it  was  the  devil 
who  was  tempting  him.  Entering  more  deeply  into  the 
meaning  of  his  text,  Mr.  Spurgeon  treated  it  under  three 
heads  :  I.  A  terrible  supposition  ;  II.  A  noble  resolution  ; 
III.  The  sentiment  of  a  child  of  God  in  distress.  Directly 
after  the  close  of  the  sermon,  the  benediction  was  pro- 
nounced and  the  congregation  dismissed.  In  the  singing 
before  the  sermon  the  whole  congregation  joined. 

"I  asked  myself,  what  is  the  secret  of  Spurgeon' s  power 
over  the  multitudes  who  have  come  from  Sunday  to  Sun- 
day for  more  than  twenty  years  to  hear  him.  A  certain 
naturalness,  I  think,  which  brings  him  at  once  into  sym- 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1 875.  145 

pathy  with  his  audience,  the  conversational  tone  which 
makes  every  one  feel  at  home,  a  clear,  common-sense  man- 
ner of  addressing  the  people,  so  that  every  one  can  grasp 
the  truth  ;  plain  language,  short  sentences,  pithy  senti- 
ments, much  true  practical  experience  of  everyday  and  of 
spiritual  life  ;  a  very  judicious  and  abundant  use  of  illus- 
trations and  quotations  from  the  Bible.  To  this,  I  may 
add  a  good,  clear  voice,  which  can  be  heard  and  under- 
stood in  all  parts  of  the  building.  We  felt  it  was  good  to 
have  been  there 

"London,  July  20. 

' '  Not  far  from  the  Abbey,  near  the  Thames,  is  the  House 
of  Parliament,  one  of  the  finest  structures  of  modern  times. 
The  tall,  square  tower,  with  its  gilt  ornaments  around  the 
steep,  tapering  roof,  is  visible  at  a  great  distance.  In  this 
building,  Gothic  architecture  has  been  adapted  to  civic 
purposes.  Since  it  was  to  stand  so  near  Westminster,  it 
was  natural  to  strive  after  a  certain  harmony.  It  may  be 
also  said,  that  there  is  enough  in  the  whole  social  organi- 
zation of  England  to  justify  the  selection  of  the  medieval 
style  for  the  building  wherein  the  law-makers  of  the  coun- 
try meet.  Abstractly,  I  feel  that  there  is  some  incongruity 
between  the  leading  lines  of  Gothic  architecture  and 
the  great  social  and  religious  principles  peculiar  to  our  age. 
The  fact  is,  we  have  no  architectural  style  which  would 
form  an  epoch  in  the  history  of  art.  We  are,  in  this  direc- 
tion not  inventive,  but  imitate  what  bygone  ages  have 
created,  and  use  therein  a  taste  for  which  it  is  often  difficult 
to  account. 

"The  hall  in  which  the  Commons  meet  seemed  small  in 
proportion  to  the  building.  Its  simplicity  of  arrangement 
could  not  escape  our  notice.  The  members  have  no  desks 
before  their  respective  places,  and  we  reflected  that  our  rep- 
resentatives in  Congress  at  Washington  have  a  good  deal 
more  comfort  when  transacting  business. 
10 


146  MEMOIR   OF  WII.I.IAM  JULIUS    MANN. 

"  London,  July  21. 
"The  weather  we  had  here  was  quite  as  good  as  one  may 
expect.  There  were  a  few  stray  rays  of  sunshine,  some 
very  moderate  fogs  and  here  and  there  some  drizzling.  But 
this  morning  was  bright  and  fine.  Passing  over  the  bridge, 
the  city  presented  a  splendid  appearance.  It  is  not  so  much 
a  city  as  a  congregation  of  cities.  No  part  of  the  whole  im- 
pressed me,  as  calculated  to  give  an  impression  of  the  whole  ; 
but  the  city  taken  altogether,  is  representative  of  all  Eng- 
land ;  in  a  certain  sense  even  of  the  world.  There  is  noth- 
ing great  on  earth  in  religion,  art,  politics,  science,  com- 
merce, industry,  race  and  nationality  that  does  not  find  some 
representation  here 

"  HoTEI,  DU  NoRD,  Cologne,  July  23. 

' '  Of  course,  the  greatest  attraction  here  is  the  Dome.  The 
last  time  I  saw  and  admired  this  majestic  structure  was  eight 
years  ago,  when  here  with  the  children.  Now  it  stands 
again  before  me,  this  building  begun  seven  hundred  years 
ago,  neglected  for  three  centuries,  a  mere  ruin,  some  forty 
years  ago  ;  but  now  restored,  and  the  grand  design  nearly 
consummated,  it  is  the  just  pride  of  every  German,  whether 
Catholic  or  Protestant.  During  the  last  eight  years,  they 
have  made  great  progress  also,  in  building  the  two  high 
towers  on  the  western  front. 

' '  The  impression  of  the  interior  is  overwhelming,  especi- 
ally the  view  down  the  middle  nave,  from  the  western  end  to 
the  choir.  What  a  difference  between  the  massiveness  of 
the  York  Cathedral  and  this  elaborate,  refined  structure, 
where  the  architectural,  the  artistic  principle,  remaining 
true  to  itself,  has  infinitely  more  in  all  directions  permeated 
the  masses,  and  has  idealized  and  quickened  the  dead  mat- 
ter, the  stones.  The  great  portals,  windows  and  sculpturing 
on  the  south  side  of  the  Dome  are  one  of  the  greatest 
triumphs  architectural  art  has  ever  achieved  and  one  of  the 
best,   if  not  the  best  example,   of  what  Gothic   art   may 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  147 

accomplish.  We  ascended  the  tall  thin  spire  erected  where 
naves,  transept  and  choir  meet,  that  is  360  feet  hig;h.  The 
great  towers  on  the  west  front  will  rise  to  the  height  of  500 
feet.  But  we  were  high  enough  to  look  down  upon  the 
Dome,  with  all  its  towers,  flying  buttresses,  pinnacles, 
rosettes,  crosses  and  numberless  ornaments,  and  upon  all 
Cologne  with  its  streets  and  churches  and  houses,  and  upon 
the  Rhine,  and  its  bridges  and  the  craft  sailing  on  its  waters 
and  in  port,  and  the  fields  far  and  near.  It  was  a  fine  sight ! 
"  Within  the  Cathedral,  the  feeling  that  such  a  building 
could  neither  be  created  by  any  other  power  than  religion, 
nor  that  it  could  serve  any  other,  impressed  me  deeply. 
There  is  a  magnitude,  a  seriousness  and  a  sacrednsss  about 
the  whole  conception  that  forever  separates  it  from  secular 
interests 

"  Eisenach,  Wartburg,  July  25. 

"A  finer  Sunday  morning  could  not  have  been  desired,  I 
rose  very  early  and  walked  up  the  mountain,  taking  my 
breakfast  at  the  restaurant  to  the  right,  and  below  the 
Castle.  My  companions  followed  some  hours  later  in  a 
carriage.  The  main  features  of  the  best  part  of  the  Castle 
are  Romanesque,  as  is  the  chapel  in  which  Luther  preached 
and  the  banqueting  hall  and  all  the  important  parts.  The 
restorations  are  admirably  carried  out.  Schwind's  frescoes, 
representing  the  history  of  the  Wartburg,  the  '  Saenger- 
krieg,'  the  story  of  St.  Elizabeth,  the  Landgravine  of 
Saxony,  are  excellent. 

"But  to  most  visitors,  as  to  us,  Luther's  room  was  the 
chief  object  of  attraction.  There  is  the  great  man's  writ- 
ing-table, there,  his  chair,  his  book-shelf,  there,  the  stove 
that  warmed  him,  there,  the  bed  in  which  he  slept,  there, 
the  mythical  ink-spot  on  the  wall  !  Certainly  these  things 
transport  one  to  those  days,  long  since  passed,  but  living 
forever  in  the  mighty  events  of  history  and  in  millions  of 
hearts. 


148  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

' '  While  the  guide  was  holding  forth  to  the  crowd  of  visi- 
tors, I  sat  down  in  Luther's  chair  and  at  his  table  wrote  a 
postal  card  to  my  friend,  Dr.  Krotel  at  New  York,  and  one 
to  our  children  which  ran  as  follows  : 

"  'My  salutation  to  you  and  to  all  good  friends  from 
Luther's  room  in  the  Wartburg,  the  smallest  workshop  for 
the  greatest  work  done  during  the  last  1800  years.' 

"We  afterwards  drove  through  the  beautiful  Marien  Thai 
and  Anna  Thai  and  saw  also  the  Drachenschlucht.    . 

"  Wittenberg,  July  26. 

"We  are  lodged  in  a  quaint  massive  building,  at  least  four 
hundred  years  old.  The  depressions  in  the  stone  staircases 
speak  of  long  service.  From  time  to  time,  the  structure 
has  been  remodelled,  but  the  primitive  parts  are  plainly 
distinguishable  and  are  most  interesting.  I  feel  as  if  a  bald 
old  monk  ought  to  meet  us  in  the  corridor,  or  a  knight  in 
a  coat  of  mail  clank  his  armor  on  the  stairway. 

"The  Schloss-Kirche,  renowned  since  the  31st  of  Oct., 
15 17,  has  undergone  no  material  changes  since  the  days 
when  Luther  preached  here.  It  is  neither  large  nor  archi- 
tecturally fine,  but  in  the  eyes  of  the  world  at  large  and  of 
Lutherans  especially,  it  is  full  of  intense  interest.  Luther 
and  Melanchthon  lie  buried  in  the  vault  under  the  Church. 

"At  the  opposite  end  of  the  town  stands  the  old  Convent 
of  St.  Augustine,  now  a  theological  seminary,  but  once  the 
home  of  Luther  and  his  family.  We  were  in  the  rooms  in 
which  the  great  man  worked  and  prayed 


"Hotel  d'AnglETERRE,  Berlin,  July  28. 

"This  day  we  devoted  to  Potsdam.  Before  we  left  our 
hotel,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Dorner  came  to  pay  us  a  visit.  After- 
ward, he  and  I  walked  together  to  the  Potsdam  depot,  and 
walking,  we  had  time  for  a  little  conversation  on  the  relig- 
ious and  ecclesiastical  questions  of  the  day.     At  the  depot, 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE  IN    1875.  I49 

the  Doctor  left  us  and  we  were  soon  seeing  the  sights  of  the 
famous  suburb,  where  the  interest  centres  in  the  royal  fam- 
ily of  Prussia  and  its  eventful  history 

"Dresden,  July  30. 

"In  the  vast  art  galler}',  Raphael's  Madonna  carries  oflf  the 
palm.  There  is  about  the  conception,  something  super- 
naturally  solemn,  and  yet  it  is  so  natural,  so  entirely  with- 
out affectation,  so  whole-souled,  that  its  contemplation  ofifers 
unspeakable  satisfaction.  In  those  large  Madonna  eyes 
there  is  a  wonderful  majesty,  combined  with  virgin  purity, 
that  seems  to  demand  worship  and  submission.  The  mys- 
terious depth  in  the  eyes  of  the  Child  seems  to  tell  of 
another  world,  but  the  naturalness  of  the  beautiful  baby 
features  is  perfect.  The  reverential  attitude  of  San  Sisto 
and  Santa  Barbara  is  full  of  noble  expression  and  the  two  an- 
gels, looking  out  with  charming  boldness,  as  through  a 
window  of  heaven  into  the  world  below,  are  just  as  perfect 
and  lovely  as  they  possibly  can  be.  Before  this  work  of 
grand  simplicity,  unaffected  profundity  and  consummate 
beauty,  criticism  is  silenced  and  one  bends  to  the  sceptre  of 
genius  ! 

"PRAGtJE,  July  31. 

"At  Bodenbach  we  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Philistines, 
in  the  garb  of  Austrian  custom-house  officers,  who,  in  behalf 
of  the  pitiable  condition  of  the  finances  of  the  Austrian  em- 
pire, grasped  a  few  dozen  cigars  we  travelers  were  carr>'ing 
and  snapped  at  a  few  dollars  of  duty,  like  dogs  at  a  June 
bug. 

"Arriving  at  Prague,  we  went  to  see  the  sights  of  this  his- 
toric place.  The  old  parts  of  the  town,  on  level  land  on 
one  side  of  the  Moldau  and  on  hilly,  precipitous  ground 
on  the  other,  are  very  queer  and  quaint.  There  is  the  old 
bridge  from  which  St.  Nepomuck  was  thrown  into  the 
river  by  the  enraged  kings,  a  story  in  which  according  to  the 


150  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

results  of  historic  research  there  is  not  a  particle  of  truth  ; 
but  since  it  adds  to  the  romance  of  the  bridge  and  can  do 
no  harm,  we  may  as  well  allow  it  to  pass.  There  are  queer 
old  towers,  bearing  the  main  feature  of  medieval  architect- 
ure, but  not  without  unmistakable  traces  of  Slavonic  origin. 
The  streets  are  narrow  and  crooked.  One  of  the  greatest, 
but  ugliest  curiosities  here  is  the  old  Synagogue,  the  dingi- 
est place  in  the  dingiest  street  where  the  Jews  live,  but  it  is 
one  of  the  oldest  Synagogues  in  Europe.  It  is  a  square 
massive  building,  neither  ventilated  nor  white-washed  for 
centuries,  I  think.  There  are  in  it  the  queerest  Jews  I 
ever  saw.  To  see  this  dark  old  place  full  of  these  strange 
old  Jews,  and  to  hear  them  chanting  their  Talmudic  form- 
ulas and  Hebrew  prayers,  every  one  in  his  own  way,  and  to 
see  the  women  peeping  in  through  the  holes  in  the  walls, 
is  indeed  a  rare  sight  to  the  eyes  and  anything  but  a  treat  to 
the  ears 

"The  Hradschin  is  an  extensive  castle,  a  conglomeration 
of  buildings,  erected  in  various  ages  ;  some  parts  of  it  may 
be  of  great  antiquity.  We  saw  the  window  from  which,  in 
1618,  Slawata,  Martinitz  and  Fabricius,  the  imperial  am- 
bassadors from  Vienna,  were  thrown  into  the  moat,  seventy 
feet  below.  This  was  the  beginning  of  the  Thirty  Years' 
War.  The  view  from  the  Hradschin  of  the  city,  the 
Moldau,  the  hills  and  fields,  is  very  fine  ;  it  has  a  splendid 
position  for  a  princely  residence 

"There  is  much  Bohemian  spoken  in  Prague  and  in  the 
country  generally.  The  national  feeling  of  the  Czechs  has 
been  growing  and  is  antagonistic  to  the  German  element. 
Yet  Bohemia  owes  all  its  culture  to  German  influence,  and 
could  not  sustain  itself  without  it.  The  Czechs  desire  the 
independent  position  which  the  Hungarians  maintain  in  the 
Austrian  empire,  but  of  course  the  German  element  does 
not  desire  this  separation.  It  would  certainly  be  a  mistake 
to  suppose  that  Bohemian  nationalism  is  identical  with 
Ultramontanism,  and  as  such  opposed  to  Germanism.      To 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  1 51 

me,  it  was  a  significant  fact,  that  I  saw  in  the  show  window 
of  a  tobacconist,  a  porcelain  smoking  pipe,  on  which  there 
was  a  copy  of  Lessing's  celebrated  painting  of  '  Hiiss  pray- 
ing before  going  to  the  stake.'  This  is  in  itself  a  little 
thing,  but  it  is  a  symptom,  showing  that  the  memory  of 
Huss  is  revived  in  Prague  and  in  all  Bohemia,  not  for  re- 
ligious, but  for  national  and  political  reasons. 

"HOTEi.  DE  L'EUROPE,  Vienna,  July  31. 

.  .  .  "In  St.  Augustine's  Church,  a  Gothic  building  of  in- 
considerable size,  but  some  fine  architectural  features,  we  ad- 
mired Canova's  superb  marble  monument  to  the  Archduch- 
ess Maria  Christina  (1793) ;  afterwards,  by  the  same  monk 
who  had  been  my  guide  in  1867,  we  were  conducted  to  the 
subterranean  vault  in  the  Church  of  the  Capucins,  where 
rest  the  mortal  remains  of  most  of  the  members  of  the  royal 
family  since  the  Emperor  Mathias  (1618).  Something  of 
the  world's  splendor  follows  them  even  there,  for  most  of 
the  cofiBus  are  magnificent  and  very  costly  works  of  art. 

"Vienna,  Aug.  i. 

"We  found  a  motley  crowd  assembled,  this  Sunday  morn- 
ing in  the  sacred  halls  of  St.  Stephens.  In  Vienna,  the 
East  and  West  and  North  and  South  of  Europe  meet ;  here, 
all  the  colors  that  make  the  imperial  coat  of  Franz  Joseph 
are  represented.  Here  is  the  well-fed  Viennese,  with  his 
jolly  wife  and  his  healthy  and  happy-looking  daughter,  here 
the  fanner  from  the  neighboring  country-,  here  the  military 
officer  and  the  bureaucrat ;  here  you  find  the  merchant 
from  Paris  or  the  Rhine,  or  the  man  in  the  tall  hat  and  the 
indefinitely  long  coat  and  the  big  heav}'  boots  from  the 
lower  Danube ;  here  you  find  the  young  artist,  not  with- 
out some  affectation  of  the  genius,  and  here  the  beggar, 
who  knows  well  enough  that  in  the  persuasion  of  his  con- 
stituents, alms-giving  helps  to  pave  the  way  to  Heaven.     . 


152  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"At  II  o'clock  we  attended  mass  in  the  Imperial  Chapel, 
where  we  found  a  great  concourse  of  people,  and  listened 
with  pleasure  to  the  music  at  High  Mass.  The  organ, 
powerful  enough  in  itself,  was  sustained  by  the  imperial 
orchestra.  The  singing  was  fine,  and  the  whole  excellent. 
The  character  of  the  music  was  solid  and  churchly,  at  least 
in  the  Romish  sense,  and  I  have  no  doubt  many  came  here 
to  enjoy  art  rather  than  to  serve  God 

"Salzburg,  Aug.  3. 

"When  I  awoke  this  morning,  and  took  the  first  peep 
through  the  curtains  and  windows  of  our  room,  I  saw  be- 
fore me  in  the  full  glory  of  the  bright  sun  and  cloudless 
sky,  the  blue  Salzach,  the  green  fields,  the  gardens,  the  tall 
trees  ;  beyond  them,  the  houses,  churches,  steeples,  cupolas 
of  the  town  ;  then  the  bold  rocky  hills  crowned  with  the 
castle  ;  villas  rising  one  above  the  other  and  in  the  dis- 
tance, to  the  south,  the  Alps  encircling  the  city  and  its  sur- 
roundings. Indeed,  this  is  a  paradise  on  earth,  if  such  is 
still  to  be  found.  The  whole  configuration  is  most  roman- 
tic. The  Alps  stretching  out  southward  from  Salzburg 
send  some  spurs  into  the  low  level  land  ;  here  it  seems  the 
subterranean  powers  made  some  fresh  efforts  to  rise,  but 
succeeded  only  in  lifting  from  the  depths  some  precipitous, 
rocky  hills,  which  give  the  landscape  its  truly  picturesque 
character.  Between  them,  the  young  Salzach  breaks  forth, 
a  robust  son  of  the  Alps  ;  the  city  is  spread  out  on  each 
side  between  the  river  and  the  rocks,  one  of  which  is 
crowned  with  the  Castle  Hohen-Salzburg.     .     .     . 

' '  Our  guide,  a  simple-minded  talkative  fellow,  soon  dis- 
covered we  were  Protestants.  He  told  me  that  he  and  all 
his  family  were  Catholics,  but  that  he  was  in  the  habit  of 
visiting  every  Sunday  the  Evangelical  Church,  established 
since  some  years  at  Salzburg  by  the  munificence  of  Em- 
peror William.  He  said  he  was  more  benefited  by  hearing 
an  Evangelical  sermon  than  by  attending  Romish  mass.     I 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  153 

asked  him  why  he  did  not  join  the  Protestant  Church,  but 
he  said  such  a  step  would  so  injure  himself  and  his  family 
in  public  opinion  that  they  would  have  to  leave  their  native 

place 

"My  wife  and  I  visited  the  pastor  of  the  Evangelical 
Congregation.  He  received  us  kindly  and  we  were  soon  in 
an  interesting  conversation  on  his  mission  work  in  this 
Protestant  outpost,  and  its  promise.  I  asked  him  whether 
he  found  any  traces  of  that  former  Evangelical  faith,  which 
had  prevailed  in  the  Alpine  valleys  around  Salzburg  one 
hundred  and  fifty  years  ago,  and  had  occasioned  so  much 
persecution  and  finally  the  emigration  of  thousands  of 
pious  men  and  women,  old  and  young,  to  Prussia  and  also 
to  Georgia,  North  America.  He  answered  that  Emperor 
William  had  asked  him  the  same  question  one  day  at  din- 
ner at  Gasteiil,  where  he  sometimes  was  asked  to  officiate  on 
Sundays  for  the  Emperor  and  his  suite.  He  said,  emphat- 
ically. No  !  the  only  vestige  of  the  faith  formerly  prevailing 
is  that  here  and  there  Bibles  are  found  in  families,  and  that 
even  this  is  very  rare.  Rev.  Mr.  Anmueller  told  us  also  that 
in  the  performance  of  his  duties  he  meets  with  no  opposi- 
tion, that  he  is  courteously  treated,  and  he  thinks  it  would 
be  a  better  and  more  hopeful  sign  if  there  were  more  curi- 
osity or  even  opposition.  But  I  think  in  the  total  lack  of 
spiritual  life  there  lies  the  difficulty  :  Catholicism  has  its 
traditional  hold  on  the  people  ;  more,  it  seems,  it  does  not 
require 

"  Munich,  Aug.  4. 

....  "  Driving  through  some  of  the  fine  new  streets 
near  the  Isar  and  passing  the  "Glass-Palace  "  and  the  Maxi- 
milianeum,  we  visited  the  Basilica,  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing buildings  of  modern  Munich.  Ever  lovely  in  its  serene 
and  serious  simplicity,  I  wonder  that  the  basilica-form  is  not 
brought  more  commonly  into  use  by  our  architects.  It  ap- 
peared to  me  that  with  some  changes,  which  would  not 


154  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

necessarily  destroy  the  fundamental  character  of  the  style, 
it  might  be  used  advantageously  for  our  Protestant  public 
service,  better  than  either  medieval  Gothic  or  antique  class- 
ical style 

"  RiGHl,  Aug.  6. 

"After  about  an  hour's  time,  we  again  ascended 

the  Kulm.  The  mist,  which  before  hid  the  lakes  and  the 
lowlands,  had  disappeared  ;  of  the  girdle  of  clouds  around  the 
Alpine  chain,  only  here  and  there  a  remnant  lingered  be- 
tween the  peaks  and  valleys.  The  golden  light  of  the  sun 
streamed  down  upon  a  world  of  beauty.  There  they  lay, 
down,  far  down  in  the  deep  before  our  eyes, — the  lakes, 
the  towns,  woods  and  fields  and  hills;  and  to  the  panorama 
stretched  out  before  us  to  north,  east  and  west,  there  was 
no  end ;  the  undulating  lines  carrying  the  eye  on  and  on, 
until  at  the  farthest  horizon,  they  were  lost  in  mist  and  sky. 
Then  turning  about,  we  had  the  Alps  before  us,  covered 
with  snow  and  ice,  an  immense  amphitheatre,  bedecked 
with  gorgeous  colors,  rising  heavenward,  declaring  the 
glory  of  the  Creator  ! 

"  Reichenbach,  Aug.  8. 

"By  and  bye  the  valley  became  narrower,  and 

its  sides  more  rocky,  yet  it  was  well  wooded,  with  here  and 
there  openings  and  meadows  where  cattle  were  grazing.  At 
length,  we  arrived  at  the  highest  point  of  the  Pass  (Brunig.) 
At  times,  we  had  splendid  glimpses  of  noble  mountains, 
covered  with  ice  and  snow,  glittering  in  the  sun  and 
looking  over  to  us  from  the  central  ridges  of  the  Bernese 
Oberland.  All  at  once,  the  Hasli  Valley  was  in  sight; 
deep  down  in  its  bosom  the  wild  Aar  winding  its  course 
between  the  precipitous  rocky  walls.  In  a  zig-zag  course 
our  road  led  down  to  the  bottom  of  the  valley  and  crossing 
the  Aar  and  the  level  stretch  around  it,  we  arrived  in  the 
afternoon  at  the  Hotel   Reichenbach,  near  the  celebrated 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  1 55 

cascade  of  the  name.  Thirty-six  years  ago  I  was  in  this 
valley  with  some  fellow-students  from  Tuebingen,  on  our 
way  to  the  Mayenwand,  Rhone  Glacier  and  the  Furca.    .    . 


"INTERLAKEN,   Aug.  9- 

"  Crossing  some  fields,  meadows  and  morasses, 

we  at  last  reached  the  Wengern  Alps,  where  we  had  the 
Yungfrau  to  our  right,  in  majestic  silvery  glor>',  apparently 
near  enough,  and  yet  separated  from  us  by  an  immense  abyss, 
which  forbade  us  the  very  thought  of  a  nearer  approach. 
Around  the  Yungfrau  are  ranged  the  Silberhorn  and  Breit- 
horn,  and  toward  the  east  follow  the  Eiger,  the  Moench,  the 
Wetterhorn,  the  Rosenstock,  encircling  like  a  colossal  am- 
phitheatre the  Gruendelwald  Valley,  the  well-known  glaciers 
of  which  sink  down  the  mountain  sides  into  the  depths. 
Nine  years  ago  when  I  was  here  with  two  of  the  children, 
the  glaciers  were  in  a  splendid  condition,  and  into  the  upper 
one  a  cavern,  formed  in  part  by  nature  and  in  part  by  art, 
led  seventy  feet  into  the  solid  ice.  But  even  mightier  than 
then,  the  glaciers  appeared  to  me  in  former  visits  to  the 
valley. 

Standing  on  the  Wengern  Alp  before  the  towering  moun- 
tains, bathing  their  silver  crowns  in  the  blue  ether,  one 
receives  a  lasting  impression  of  the  unspeakable  force  which 
raised  these  masses  thousands  and  thousands  of  feet,  so  that 
there  is  everlasting  winter  around  their  crowns,  and  they 
are  girded  by  fields  of  snow  and  miles  upon  miles  of  ice, 
hundreds  of  feet  deep  in  their  depressions,  sending  glaciers 
down  into  the  green  valleys  and  superabundantly  irrigating 
the  gardens  and  the  meadows,  and  nourishing  torrents  and 
rivers.  It  is  impossible  to  enjoy  the  grand  aspect,  without 
questioning  how  these  wonders  were  formed.  But  the 
answer,  whatever  it  may  be,  is  unsatisfactory,  save  the  one, 
that  God,  the  Creator  of  the  heavens  and  the  earth,  did  also 
call  forth  these  witnesses  of  his  glory 


156  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"  Berne,  Aug.  n. 

"From  the  *  Schaenzle,'  we  had  a  fine  view  of 

the  city,  the  river,  the  neighboring  hills,  promenades  and 
gardens  and  last,  but  by  no  means  least,  a  most  magnificent 
panorama  of  the  chain  of  the  Bernese  Alps.  There  they  stood 
in  splendid  array,  the  sun  casting  a  rosy  hue  upon  their 
rocks  and  snow-fields  and  glaciers.  It  was  indeed  a  mag- 
nificent view,  the  evening  clear,  without  a  cloud  obstruct- 
ing the  sun.  Returning  to  our  hotel,  we  sat  in  the  garden, 
where  the  Alps  again  could  be  seen  in  the  beauty  of  the 
"  Alpen  Gluehen,"  the  sun  before  disappearing  lighting  up 
as  with  a  fiery  glow  the  highest  peaks,  pressing  upon  their 
cold,  icy  faces  the  last  evening  kiss.  It  is  a  grand  sight, 
that  lasts  only  a  short  time.  With  us,  it  was  already  dusk, 
and  of  the  lower  portions  of  the  mountains  nothing  could 
be  seen.  But  the  tops,  towering  up  to  the  sky,  receive  the 
last  adieu  of  the  parting  sun,  and  it  seems  as  if  he  with 
celestial  flame  would  kindle  sacrificial  fires  on  those  high 
altars  in  the  temple  of  the  Alps. 

"  SCHAFFHAUSEN,  Aug.   13. 

"  Leaving  comparisons  aside,  the  scene  before 

us  was  a  gem.  Here  at  our  feet,  the  blue-green  river,  gather- 
ing up  its  forces  after  the  catastrophe  of  the  fall  ;  there  the 
lively  scene  of  the  waters,  rolling,  jumping,  foaming,  spray- 
ing, frolicking  over  the  rocks  ;  then,  to  the  right  of  the  cas- 
cade, SchlossLaufen  crowning  the  eminence,  with  tall  trees 
and  fine  gardens  around  it,  and  the  hills  bordering  the  river, 
which  now  quieted  makes  its  way  toward  Basle  and  Strass- 
burg. 

"Stuttgart,  Aug.  14. 

"Toward  i  o'clock  P.  M.  we  left  Baden  Baden  and  pass- 
ing Carlsruhe  in  the  plain  of  the  Rhine  Valley  and  after- 
wards the  well-known  manufacturing  town  of  Pfortzheim, 
at  the  northwestern  spurs  of  the  Black  Forest,  we  entered 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1 875.  157 

the  Kiiij^doin  of  Wurteniberg,  and  then  passing  the  former 
fortress  and  present  State-prison,  Ashberg,  and  afterwards, 
Ludwigsburg,  the  birthplace  of  David  Fred.  Strauss,  and 
finally  emerging  from  a  long  tunnel,  we  at  last  arrived  at 
Stuttgart,  where,  for  the  first  time  in  my  life,  I  found 
quarters  at  the  Marquart  Hotel.* 

"Here  once  stood  my  cradle,  here  I  played  my  boyish 
pranks  and  many  of  them  ;  here  I  first  went  to  school  and 
to  church  and  laid  the  foundation  of  my  education.  Here, 
forty  years  ago,  I  knew  almost  every  street  corner  and  every 
alley.  Here  I  had  in  bygone  days  and  years  a  home,  and 
that  a  good  one.  Even  seven  years  ago,  when  I  was  here 
with  the  children,  we  had  a  home  here  and  were  so  joyfully 
received  by  my  good  mother.  Then  we  had  a  glorious 
time  of  it !  But  now  all  is  changed ,  Since  my  mother 
died,  six  years  ago,  I  am  a  stranger  here,  no  less  than 
others 

"Sunday,  Stuttgart,  Aug.  15. 

"Quite  early  I  was  awake  and  rose  before  six  o'clock. 
Before  seven,  we  heard  the  choral  played  on  the  balcony  of 
the  main  tower  of  the  Stiftskirche.  This  is  an  ancient  and 
venerable  custom  of  Southern  Germany,  wherever  the 
Evangelical  Church  predominates.  Three  times  a  day,  the 
trombonists  ascend  the  tower  and  their  beautiful  chorals 
remind  the  busy  people  in  the  streets  far  below,  and  in  their 
homes  and  places  of  business,  of  higher  interests  than  those 
of  trade  and  worldly  amusements. 

"Early  in  the  morning,  my  wife  and  I  paid  a  visit  to  the 
last  resting  place  of  my  dear  father  and  mother  in  the 
Hoppenlau  Cemeter>',  the  oldest  burying-ground  of  the  city. 
I  found  the  spot,  sacred  to  me,  to  the  left  of  the  pathway 
beyond   the    Chapel.     Seven   years   ago,  my   mother   had 

*  Dr.  Mann  had  friends  and  connections,  but  no  near  relatives  living  in 
Stuttgart  in  1875.  His  brother,  the  Rev.  Adolph  Mann,  was  in  Africa  at 
his  post  as  missionary  at  this  time. 


158  MEMOIR  OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

brought  me  and  the  children  here.  Now,  she  also  sleeps 
beside  my  father.  Mournful  feelings  overwhelmed  me, 
memory  returning  to  happy  days,  past  long  ago.  Far  from 
this  hallowed  spot,  I  may  once  find  my  resting  place  in  a 
distant  land,  not  on  this  account  among  strangers,  but 
with  those  who  now  are  as  near  and  dear  to  me  as  father 
and  mother ! 

"Stuttgart,  Aug.  16. 

"  We  drove  to  St.  Leonhard's  Church,  and  then 

up  the  '  Neue  Weinsteige '  between  the  vine-clad  hills  up  to 
the  '  Bopser  Stern, '  where  one  has  a  fine  prospect  of  the 
city.  It  is  indeed  a  magnificent  view,  and  Stuttgart,  as  it  lies 
encircled  by  the  rising  hills,  with  the  valley  opening  toward 
the  Neckar,  and  a  distant  prospect  of  many  miles  stretched 
out  in  luxuriant  loveliness,  is  certainly  '  beautiful  for  situa- 
tion. '  No  wonder  that  its  beauty  and  its  many  educational, 
literary  and  social  advantages  attract  so  many  strangers! 
We  have  paid  a  great  many  visits,  but  many  friends  at  this 
hot  season,  too,  are  out  of  town 

"  CoivOGNE,  Aug.  19. 

"At  noon,  we  went  on  board  the  steamer 

'  Ivoreley,'  which  took  us  down  the  old  Rhine,  and  gave  us 
a  fine  opportunity  to  enjoy  its  romantic  shores.  Beautiful 
it  is,  with  its  bold  rocks  and  precipitous  mountains,  its  vine- 
yards, gardens  and  forests,  its  ruins  and  villas  and  towns. 
In  very  few  points  on  this  earth  are  more  romantic,  historic, 
antiquarian,  poetic,  patriotic  interests  united.  It  is  especially 
the  romantic  element  which  gives  the  peculiar  charm  to 
these  shores,  and  it  is  this  which  Americans  can  not  yet  ex- 
pect to  find  at  home,  for  it  is  the  slow  growth  of  centuries. 

"  C01.OGNE,  Aug.  20. 

.    ......    "The  Dome  fills  my  soul  with  ever  renewed 

admiration.     Never  did  human  mind   conceive   a   greater 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE  IN    1 875.  159 

architectural  design.  The  structure  is  so  beautifully  articu- 
lated, the  principle,  underlying  the  whole  is  so  consistently 
carried  out,  that  it  stands  before  you,  almost  like  an  organic 
growth.  It  is  a  question  to  what  extent  those  who  designed 
the  plan  were  conscious  of  the  symbolism  embodied  in  these 
forms,  so  expressive  of  the  principles  of  Christianity. 

"We  spent  the  day  seeing  the  city  ;  and  there 

is  around  these  ancient  towns  a  romantic  interest  which  is  a 
great  incentive  to  imagination.  To  the  eye,  keen  in  its  ap- 
preciation of  the  picturesque,  there  is  a  wealth  of  motives 
treasured  up  in  these  narrow  lanes  and  crooked  alleys,  corners 
and  high-gabled  roofs  and  relics  of  the  past,  in  stone  and 
wood.  Add  to  this,  the  perspective  of  centuries  and  of 
their  wonderful  historic  record  and  social  changes  and  there 
is,  at  least  to  me,  to  almost  ever>'thing  in  such  a  place 
attached  a  wonderful  and  deep  interest. 

"All  this  is  the  ideal  view  of  things  at  Cologne.  The 
realities  are,  of  course,  also  here  ;  and  possibly  they  are 
here  more  than  in  many  another  place  and  of  such  a  char- 
acter, that  to  idealize  would  be  connected  with  considerable 
difl&culties.  Among  those  things,  which  in  Cologne  power- 
fully resist  all  idealizing  tendencies,  I  count  the  odors 
which  permeate  this  ancient  and  venerable  locality.  They 
are  of  various  shades  and  grades,  and  by  no  means  alto- 
gether lovely.  I  entertain  no  doubt  that  they  gave  the 
occasion  for  the  manufacture  of  that  world-renowned  es- 
sence, by  which  the  name  of  Maria  Farina  is  immortalized. 
It  may  be  assumed,  that  the  real,  genuine,  legitimate 
bearer  of  that  name  belongs  to  those  things  which  '  no 
fellow  can  find  out.'  Even  the  question  how  many  Maria 
Farina's  there  are  in  Cologne,  is  not  easy  to  answer.  But 
that  this  is  the  place  they  ought  to  live  and  make  eau  de 
Cologne,  no  doubt  can  exist.  Every  stranger  visiting  this 
place  is  expected  to  buy  some  of  that  fabrication .  It  is  a 
tax  laid  on  the  olfactories.  I  even  feel  inclined  to  think, 
that  all  those  other  odors,  inherent  in  this  ancient  city,  are 


l6o  MEMOIR  OP  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

also  invented  and  intended  with  a  single  eye — or  nose — to 
encourage  the  trade  of  eau  de  Cologne  ! 

"  HoTEI,  Meurice,  Paris,  Aug.  21, 

"  At  last,  we  arrived  at  great  Paris,  this  world- 
historic  pivot  since  some  hundred  years,  this  extract  of  all 
that  is  grandest  and  lowest  in  the  present  generation,  this 
focus  of  all  European  interests,  this  chosen  city  of  all  vanity, 
and  of  all  good-for-nothing  pleasure-seekers,  and  of  all  the 
tailors,  male  and  female,  in  both  hemispheres.  But  a  great, 
fine,  wonderful  city  it  is,  and  the  god  of  fashion  undeniably 
lives  in  a  handsome  temple.  For  generations,  he  has  sent 
out  his  decree  from  Paris,  and  the  Parisians  are  the  master- 
tailors,  the  master-shoe-makers,  and  the  master-hat-and-bon- 
net-makers,  and  master-glove-makers,  to  the  wide,  wide 
world  ;  and  only  the  North  American  Indians  and  the  dusky 
dwellers  on  the  Congo  and  similar  abnormal  barbarians  will 
not  submit  to  the  sceptre  of  Paris.  Even  the  Turks  at 
Constantinople  and  Cairo  can  no  longer  entirely  disrespect 
the  Parisian  manifestos  of  fashion.  And  it  must  be  ad- 
mitted, that  save  certain  extravagances,  there  is  much  taste, 
much  feeling  for  that  which  is  becoming  and  attractive  in 
dress  and  manner,  at  home  in  Paris.  The  instinct  for 
decorative  art  is  nowhere  better  developed.  As  to  fashion 
in  wearing  apparel,  one  would  err  in  supposing  that  the  cut 
and  color  of  our  dresses  is  something  altogether  arbitrary 
in  the  hands  of  a  few  leaders.  The  changing  fashions  and 
the  changing  spirit  of  the  times  in  politics,  religion,  social 
conditions  and  so  on,  are  in  close  inner  connection.  To 
this,  the  artist,  the  inventive  genius  of  fashion,  gives  a 
more  or  less  happy  expression.  It  was  not  a  mere  accident, 
that  with  the  coming  in  of  the  first  French  Revolution, 
fashions  at  once  totally  changed,  as  by  a  charm.  They 
went  through  a  similar  transformation  at  the  accession  of 
Louis  Napoleon  to  the  imperial  throne 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1875.  161 

"Paris,  Auj,'.  29. 

"There  stood  in  all  its  mournful  majesty,  what 

the  madness  and  the  flames  of  the  Communists  left  of  the 
Palace  of  the  Tuileries  !  In  those  rooms,  ten  years  ago.  Na- 
poleon III.  calculated  on  his  chances  of  establishing  a  dy- 
nasty for  centuries  to  come.  Now,  all  is  gloom  and  desola- 
tion. The  Emperor  is  dead  and  lived  just  long  enough  to 
bury  his  ambition.  What  a  splendid  view  he  once  had  from 
the  gaudy  halls  of  this  now  ruined  palace  over  the  garden 
paradise,  over  the  Place  de  la  Concord,  reminding  with  its 
Obelisk  of  the  changes  of  the  ages,  down  the  Champs 
Elysees  to  that  proud  Arc  de  Triomphe  and,  so  to  speak, 
over  Europe  and  the  world  !  What  a  change  !  Paris,  in- 
deed, proclaims  more  loudly  than  any  other  city,  the  insta- 
bility of  earthly  power  and  glor)-,  and  the  fallacy  of  popular 
favor.  Paris  can  show  a  smiling  face,  but  behind  it  is  a 
soul  full  of  indomitable  passions.     Farewell,  Paris  ! 

"September  i. 

"At  ten  o'clock,  a  lighter  took  us  from  the  shore 

to  the  'Indiana,'  in  which  we  came  from  the  other  hemis- 
phere and  in  which  we  hope  to  return  to  it.  It  was  pleas- 
ant to  meet  familiar  faces  on  the  steamer.  On  board,  we 
had  a  fine  view  of  Liverpool,  Birkenhead,  and  the  surround- 
ing country'.  My  nephew,  Victor  Mann,  was  with  us  until 
we  weighed  anchor.     And  now — Farewell,  Europe  !  .     .     . 

"Sunday,  Sept.  12. 

"It  was  nearly  two  o'clock  when  we  left  the 

steamer.  Some  friends  met  us  and  procured  us  carriages, 
and  in  a  short  time  we  were  once  more  safely  at  home  and 
had  the  children  in  our  embrace.  These  were  happy  mo- 
ments !  Our  good  neighbors,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wagner,  came 
over  a  moment  to  share  in  our  joy.  God  be  praised  for  all 
his  mercies ! 


l62  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"Our  Sunday-school  being  still  assembled,  I  quietly 
walked  over  to  the  church  and  appeared  then  and  there 
among  them.     This  was  another  occasion  for  much  joy. 

"Home,  Sept.  15. 

' '  My  congregation  and  vestry  exhibited  to  me  so  much 
kindness  and  sympathy  on  my  return,  that  I  indeed  had 
a  happy  ending  to  my  journey.  On  Tuesday  evening,  two 
of  the  elders  escorted  me  to  the  church,  which  I  found  bril- 
liantly illuminated  and  decorated  and  crowded  in  every 
corner.  There  were  also  a  number  of  my  clerical  brethren 
present,  who  had  kindly  come  to  welcome  me.  There  was 
singing  and  prayer,  and  then  Rev.  Dr.  A.  Spaeth  addressed 
me  on  behalf  of  the  congregation,  presenting  me  with  a  fine 
Chickering  grand  piano,  which  stood  in  the  aisle  before  the 
chancel  railing.  Then  the  choir,  the  Sunday-school  teach- 
ers and  other  organizations  in  the  congregation  also  pre- 
sented me  with  beautiful  tokens  of  love  and  regard. 

"To  all  this  I  had,  of  course,  to  answer  and  did  it  with  a 
full  heart,  telling  my  good  people  that  their  great  kindness 
toward  me,  reminded  me  of  the  question  :  "What  shall  be 
done  unto  the  man,  whom  the  king  delighteth  to  honor?" 
I  told  them  that  they  were  in  this  case  certainly  the  king, 
but  that  I  could  by  no  manner  of  means  consider  myself 
the  man  who  deserved  these  honors  and  this  superabundant 
kindness.  And  I  could  not  but  tell  them  that  such  a  rev- 
elation of  their  good  will  toward  me  made  me  forget  all  the 
cares  and  toils  of  my  office,  whilst  their  kindness  could 
never  be  forgotten  and  could  only  serve  to  bind  my  heart 
more  firmly  and  more  inseparably  to  their  hearts.  Indeed, 
this  was  an  exceedingly  pleasant  occasion  for  me  and  my 
family  and  all  of  us. 

"And  now,  to  work,  to  work  again  as  long  as  God  wills  it ! 
This  is  now  the  password.  The  days  of  repose  and  relaxa- 
tion are  over.     The   days  for  work  diminish   in   number. 


JOURNEY  TO   EUROPE   IN    1 875.  163 

The  end  is  nearer.  May  God  help  and  strengthen  me  to  do 
what  my  hands  may  find  to  do,  and  to  do  it  in  a  way  pleas- 
ing to  Him,  so  that  in  the  end,  I  shall  be  prepared  and 
willing  to  go  on  the  last  great  voyage  and  may  cast  anchor 
at  the  heavenly  port  and  be  at  home  with  Him  ! ' ' 


CHAPTER  XVII. 

PHILANTHROPIC  WORK  AND  FRIENDSHIPS. 

BESIDE  the  charitable  and  mission  work  to  whicli  Dr. 
Mann  devoted  himself  in  connection  with  the  various 
organizations  in  the  congregation,  he  was  one  of  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Lutheran  Orphans'  Home  and  Asylum  for  the 
Aged  and  Infirm  at  Germantown.  The  welfare  of  these 
institutions  was  very  dear  to  him  ;  and  in  times  of  prosper- 
ity and  adversity,  which  were  not  wanting,  he  labored  with 
loving  zeal  for  the  cause.  His  counsels,  clear  insight  and 
sound  judgment  were  always  at  the  service  of  his  co-work- 
ers ;  while  by  his  personal  influence  and  on  the  pulpit,  he 
was  ever  ready  to  plead  the  cause  of  the  orphan  and  the 
aged. 

Shortly  after  he  made  his  home  in  Philadelphia,  he  be- 
came a  member  of  the  German  Society  and  some  years 
later,  Mrs.  Consul  Kiederlen  made  him  a  life  member 
thereof  The  cause  was  dear  to  him  ;  to  destitute  Germans 
and  those  who  as  strangers  in  a  strange  land  required  ad- 
vice and  guidance,  he  was  ever  ready  to  give  of  his  means 
and  time. 

For  many  years  a  Director  of  the  German  Society  and 
the  Chairman  of  its  Library  Committee,  he  was  indefatiga- 
ble in  his  efforts  to  further  the  work.  For  securing  mate- 
rial for  the  library,  his  extensive  knowledge  of  books,  his 
acquaintance  with  current  productions  in  the  wide  domain 
of  literature,  German  and  English,  his  excellent  literary 
taste,  added  to  his  knowledge  of  men  and  their  needs,  em- 
inently fitted  him. 

In  his  labors  in  this  direction,  he  came  into  contact  with 
164 


PHILANTHROPIC   WORK   AND    FRIENDSHIPS.  1 65 

many  Germans  of  intelligence  and  cnlture  who  stood  aloof 
from  the  church.  His  position  on  this  account  was  often 
very  trying,  and  he  was  at  times  discouraged  and  felt  that 
he  could  scarcely  continue  the  work.  But  his  great  pa- 
tience and  affability,  his  appreciation  of  the  difficulties 
besetting  others,  and,  above  all,  his  hope  to  influence  for 
good  in  the  deliberations  and  his  unwillingness  to  discour- 
age such  as  stood  upon  a  churchly  basis,  as  well  as  his  own 
real  interest  in  the  cause,  forbade  this.  Not  until  he  was 
nearly  seventy  years  old,  and  the  distance  from  his  home  to 
the  place  of  meeting  very  great,  did  he  resign  as  an  active 
member  of  the  Society.  On  the  19th  of  April,  1889,  by  a 
unanimous  vote,  he  was  made  an  honorary  member ;  and 
the  action  of  the  Board,  handsomely  engrossed,  was  pre- 
sented to  him. 

Among  those  who  stood  far  aloof  from  him  in  questions 
of  faith,  were  men  who  loved  and  respected  him  most 
highly,  and  who  testified  in  many  ways  to  their  apprecia- 
tion of  his  work  among  them. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  Society  for  Alleviating  the 
Miseries  of  Public  Prisons  and,  from  1873  to  'yS^  an  active 
member  of  the  Visiting  Committee  of  this  organization. 
His  labors  in  this  field  awakened  his  deepest  concern  and 
engaged  his  earnest  efforts. 

Very  systematic  in  all  his  work,  we  find  in  his  Manual 
for  the  Committee  on  the  Eastern  Penitentiary,  the  names 
of  the  prisoners,  the  numbers  of  the  cells,  the  nationality, 
crime  and  length  of  imprisonment  of  each  neatly  noted. 
Remarks  on  the  condition  and  disposition  of  the  criminals 
are  frequently  appended,  with  sometimes  a  statement  of 
their  consciousness  of  guilt  or  evidences  of  improvement  in 
spiritual  condition.  His  naturally  sympathetic,  straight- 
forward yet  gentle  manner  overcame  the  coldness  and  hard- 
ness of  many  of  the  unfortunates  whom  he  visited  weekly, 
when  it  was  possible ;  and  he  sought  to  carry  the  light  of 
the  Gospel  to  the  gloomy  prison  cells. 


l66  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Among  the  unfortunates  lie  saw  in  the  penitentiary  were 
two  burglars  who  had  been  imprisoned  after  having  robbed 
his  own  house.  He  had  many  conversations  with  them  and 
finally  succeeded  in  making  one  of  them  confess  "that  bur- 
glary did  not  pay,"  and  that  he  would  live  a  better  life 
after  his  release.  But  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  the 
man  died,  not  without  having  received  much  kindness 
from  Dr.  Mann. 

That  his  labors  in  this  Society  were  not  inconsiderable, 
the  record  of  nearly  two  thousand  visits  he  paid  abundantly 
proves.  He  loved  the  work  and  closes  his  manual  with  the 
remark,  "I  fell  sick  in  May  ('78)  and  have  had  to  give  up 
my  visits  in  the  Penitentiary."  It  was  at  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  his  family  that  he  did  not  resume  them,  as  he  had 
too  many  claims  upon  him  in  other  directions  to  permit  of 
this  work  when  he  was  nearing  three-score. 

In  1883,  he  was  elected  a  trustee  of  the  German  Hospital ; 
and  in  the  work  there  by  the  side  of  its  honored  President 
and  benefactor,  Mr.  John  D.  Lankenau,  he  was  active  until 
the  close  of  his  life.  In  the  deliberations  of  board  meet- 
ings, in  the  consideration  of  measures  to  aid  and  advance 
the  cause,  he  was  whole-souled,  far-seeing  and  energetic. 
He  was  devoted  to  the  work  in  the  hospital  and  sought 
ever,  as  he  called  upon  others  to  do  in  his  address  on  the 
occasion  of  its  re-opening  in  1884,  "  indefatigably  to  nur- 
ture and  support  it  with  loving  and  faithful  labor. ' ' 

After  the  erection,  in  1888,  of  the  Mary  J.  Drexel  Home 
and  Mother  House  of  Deaconesses  by  Mr.  Lankenau,  Dr. 
Mann  was  one  of  its  trustees  to  the  time  of  his  death.  At 
the  dedication  of  the  building  he  delivered  the  German  ad- 
dress. 

For  many  years  he  was  one  of  the  Vice-Presidents  of  the 
Bible  Society. 

Long  before   the   establishment  of  the  Lutheran  Emi 
grants'  House   Association  of  New  York,  he   wrote  to  a 
friend  :      ' '  The  condition  of  the  Gennan  emigrants  often 


PHILANTHROPIC  WORK   AND   FRIENDSHIPS.  1 67 

occupies  me.  Would  it  not  be  possible  to  call  into  exist- 
ence some  power  to  protect  them  on  their  journey  and  im- 
mediately upon  their  arrival  from  the  evil  influences  of  sa- 
loons, unscrupulous  people,  and  deceivers,  and  to  secure 
for  them  rapid  and  cheap  transit  to  the  West?  "  When  this 
noble  and  helpful  charity  was  established,  he  used  his  influ- 
ence in  many  ways  to  aid  and  support  it.  Many  hundreds 
of  copies  of  a  pamphlet  he  wrote,  descriptive  of  its  object 
and  mode  of  work,  that  directs  emigrants  to  seek  this  tem- 
porary home  for  shelter  and  advice  upon  their  landing  in 
the  New  World,  have  been  distributed  in  Germany. 

He  was  a  life  member  of  the  Historical  Society  of  Penn- 
sylvania, of  the  American  Society  of  Church  History,  the 
Oriental  Club,  the  American  Academy  of  Political  and  So- 
cial Science,  and  of  the  American  Oriental  Society. 

Few  men  enjoyed  social  pleasures  more  than  did  Dr.  Mann. 
With  his  natural  sympathy  for  all  with  whom  he  came  into 
contact,  his  varied  knowledge,  his  delight  in  good  conver- 
sation, his  flow  of  wit  and  appreciation  of  it  in  others,  he 
was  constituted  to  enjoy  contact  with  other  minds.  But 
his  days  were  so  full  of  work,  that  he  had  little  time  for 
this  recreation  and  stimulus. 

To  compensate  for  it,  in  a  measure,  he  had  the  frequent 
meetings  with  his  colleagues  at  the  Theological  Seminary 
and  other  clerical  friends  in  Philadelphia,  and  he  knew 
how  to  draw  out  a  certain  social  element  and  to  put  a  little 
humor  into  the  dry  routine  of  business  and  board  meetings. 

Among  the  clerg}-  of  other  communions,  Dr.  Mann  had 
many  valued  and  beloved  friends,  with  whom  he  much  en- 
joyed social  intercourse.  Friendships  with  many  estimable 
men  in  the  various  walks  of  life,  professional  and  otherwise, 
some  of  which  endured  for  more  than  thirty  years,  made 
his  life  rich  in  sympathy,  interest  and  love. 

Among  those  who  were  not  clergymen  in  the  board  of 
the  German  Hospital,  Mr.  John  D.  Lankenau,  Consul  Chas. 
H.  Meyer  and  Mr.  Chas.  G.  Woerwag  stood  in  the  nearer  re- 
lation of  friendship  to  him. 


1 68  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Professor  Oswald  Seidensticker  of  the  University  of 
Pennsylvania,  whose  friendship  with  Dr.  Mann  "for  forty 
years  was  untarnished  by  a  speck  that  might  dim  the  beau- 
tiful memory  of  it,"  was  ever  a  cherished  companion  and  a 
stimulating  intellectual  associate. 

In  the  death,  in  1868,  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Stohlmann  of  New 
York,  Dr.  Mann  had  the  sorrow  of  losing  a  highly  valued 
friend.  The  next  year,  he  suffered  another  great  loss  in  the 
death  of  the  friend  of  his  youth,  the  Rev.  Hermann  Eytel, 
with  whom  correspondence  had  kept  the  ties  of  friendship 
very  close,  and  with  whom  the  reunion  in  the  Fatherland, 
in  '67,  had  been  a  source  of  especial  pleasure. 

The  death,  in  1879,  of  the  venerable  chairman  of  the 
Faculty  of  the  Seminary,  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  F.  Schaeffer,  and 
the  departure  from  this  life  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  P. 
Krauth,  in  1883,  Dr.  Mann  mourned  for  his  own  deep  per- 
sonal sense  of  loss,  as  well  as  for  the  Church. 

Dr.  C.  W.  Schaeffer  and  Dr.  H.  E.  Jacobs,  his  colleagues 
in  the  faculty  of  the  Seminary  to  the  close  of  his  life,  were 
at  the  same  time  dear  and  valued  friends. 

The  arrival  in  Philadelphia  of  Dr.  Hermann  V.  Hil- 
precht,  the  Assyriologist,  whose  first  visit  in  Philadelphia 
was  made  to  Dr.  Mann,  marked  the  beginning  of  a  friend- 
ship which  brightened  the  last  years  of  his  life.  Fresh 
from  the  life  of  the  German  University,  Dr.  Hilprecht  re- 
vived Dr.  Mann's  interest  in  that  subtle  phase  of  the  intel- 
lectual world,  and  personal  contact  with  the  young  enthu- 
siastic scholar,  who  was  very  congenial,  was  a  source  of 
great  pleasure  to  his  "esteemed  fatherly  friend." 

When  in  1864,  ^^^  Rev.  Adolph  Spaeth  became  Dr. 
Mann's  colleague  as  pastor,  he  soon  recognized  in  the 
younger  man,  the  warmth  and  geniality  of  the  true  Suabian 
character  and  the  thorough  culture  of  the  German  theolo- 
logian  ;  and  he  rejoiced  in  having  so  congenial  a  co-worker 
in  the  pastorate.  It  was  natural  that  acquaintance  soon 
ripened  into  friendship,  where  there  were  so  many  mutual 


PHILANTHROPIC  WORK   AND   FRIENDSHIPS.  1 69 

interests.  Dr.  Mann  was  a  true  friend  to  the  younger 
brother  and,  from  the  first,  made  him  feel  that  Philadelphia 
was  to  be  his  home,  that  there  was  abundant  work  here, 
and  that  he  must  have  no  thought  of  any  other  field  of  la- 
bor. And  Dr.  Spaeth  loved  and  valued  this  friend  very 
highly  and  in  the  "Memorial  of  William  Julius  Mann" 
has  presented  not  only  an  outline  of  his  work  as  a  theolo- 
gian, pastor  and  professor,  but  has  as  well  paid  a  loving  trib- 
ute to  his  memory. 

The  Rev.  Benjamin  Schmauk,  whose  family  stood  in  a 
close  friendly  relation  to  Dr.  Mann,  was,  among  the  many 
valued  friends  in  the  Ministerium  and  the  General  Council, 
especially  dear. 

Rev.  Dr.  G.  F.  Krotel,  the  pastor  of  Holy  Trinity 
Church,  New  York,  and  one  of  the  recognized  leaders  of 
the  Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  was  for  more  than  thirty 
years,  the  highly  esteemed  and  intimate  friend  of  Dr. 
Mann.  Mutually  drawn  to  one  another  in  the  early  days 
of  their  acquaintance,  when  meeting  at  synodical  sessions 
or  on  similar  occasions,  the  friendship  was  cemented  when 
both  lived  in  Philadelphia,  and  it  filled  Dr.  ]\Iann  with 
deep  personal  regret  when  his  friend  accepted  the  call  to 
New  York. 

Dr.  Krotel' s  visits  to  Philadelphia  were  times  of  special 
pleasure  to  Dr.  Mann.  He  always  looked  happily  forward 
to  the  meeting,  thoroughly  enjoyed  the  congenial  compan- 
ionship and  in  his  diary  often  gives  expression  to  the  satis- 
faction and  enjoyment  this  friendship  afforded  him.  "He 
is  the  friend,"  he  writes,  "with  whom  I  believe  I  can  sym- 
pathize in  all  things.  I  have  much  enjoyed  his  genial 
presence."  And  Dr.  Krotel  reciprocated  this  deep  aflfection 
and  esteem,  as  his  tribute  to  the  memory  of  this  friend,  * 
with  whom  he  had  labored  in  the  Master's  cause  so  many 
years,  touchingly  testifies. 

*See  extract  from  Lutheran,  July  2iicl,  1892,  in  supplement  of  this  vol- 
ume. 


170  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Dr.  Mann's  intimate  relation  to  his  beloved  friends,  Dr. 
Philip  Schaff  and  the  late  Mr.  Gustav  Schwab  of  New 
York  has  frequently  been  referred  to  in  the  preceding  pages. 
Educated  together  in  the  Gymnasium  at  Stuttgart  in  the 
days  of  boyhood,  "leaving  their  kindred  and  their  father's 
house"  in  early  manhood,  finding  new  homes  and  new  family 
ties  in  a  land  that  the  "  Lord  showed  unto  them,"  the  old 
memories,  the  old  hopes,  the  old  love  were  as  strong  as  ever 
in  the  new  land  and  were  strengthened  by  the  growing  years. 

To  these  three  friends,  whose  natures  beautifully  supple- 
mented each  other  was  permitted  what  is  not  accorded  to 
many  in  this  world — they  celebrated  the  golden  anniver- 
sary of  the  triple  friendship.  Fifty  years  of  mutual  confi- 
dence and  love  they  could  review,  and  Dr.  Schaff  wrote,  in 
dedicating  the  third  volume  of  his  Church  History  to  Dr. 
Mann  and  Mr.  Schwab,  "standing  on  the  threshold  of  old 
age,  we  may  look  back  with  gratitude  and  praise  to  the 
cloudless  friendship  of  our  youth  and  manhood,  and  look 
forward  with  faith  and  hope  to  a  holier  and  happier  broth- 
erhood in  our  future  and  final  home. ' ' 

Only  a  few  years  after  these  words  were  written,  Mr.  Gus- 
tav Schwab,  the  youngest  of  the  three,  was  called  to  that 
"long  home."  In  this  dear  friend's  last  illness,  Dr.  Mann 
was  a  faithful  correspondent,  and  when  the  strength  to 
guide  the  pen  was  wanting,  Mr.  Schwab's  daughters  wrote 
at  his  dictation.  In  a  letter  of  those  sad  days,  written 
shortly  after  a  visit  to  his  sick  friend  in  New  York,  Dr. 
Mann  wrote :  "In  spirit,  I  am  with  you  every  day  and  in 
thought,  have  you  here  with  me.  What  a  comfort  it  is  to 
know  that  everything  that  love,  experience  and  science  can 
do  to  relieve  a  sufferer  is  done  in  richest  measure  for  you  ! 
The  conviction,  too,  that  you  regard  life  and  its  experi- 
ences, not  as  the  play  of  accident  nor  the  result  of  arbitrary 
ruling,  but  as  the  leading  of  the  Divine  Hand,  is  another 
great  comfort.  That  is  the  key  to  a  noble  life  and  is  the 
secret  of  a  calm  and  manly  bearing  in  infirmity  ! 


PHII^ANTHROPIC   WORK   AND    FRIENDSHIPS.  I7I 

"Of  course,  to  one  who  has  always  been  accustomed  to 
intellectual  and  social  activity,  the  enforced  idleness  is  a 
very  great  trial.  But  your  mental  vigor,  the  recollection 
of  your  busy  years,  unusually  rich  in  experience  and  labor, 
the  congenial  spirits  that  your  memory  conjures  at  will,  all 
your  loved  ones  about  you,  and  your  home  in  its  beautiful 
surroundings,  where  spring  in  its  fresh  green  will  soon  greet 
you  through  the  windows  and  waft  its  sweet,  life-giving 
breezes  to  you, — all  these  and  many  other  blessings  help  to 
shorten  for  you  the  long  and  weary  hours.  Besides,  is  not, 
in  the  end,  the  whole  world  only  a  big  hospital,  in  which 
Christian  faith  is  the  best  room,  that  gets  the  most  light 
and  warmth?  The  world,  too,  is  of  such  a  character  that 
one  cannot  but  grow  weary  of  this  life  and  its  constant 
demands. 

"We  two,  you,  dear  friend,  and  I,  have  grown  old.  When 
we  were  in  our  cradles,  the  last  mutterings  of  the  storms 
that  swept  over  Europe  in  the  first  decades  of  the  cen- 
tury, had  died  away  ;  and  the  weighty  questions  of  the  world 
seemed  to  have  been  answered.  And  now,  when  we  are 
nearer  to  eternity  than  time,  mighty  and  difficult  problems 
again  confront  the  nations.  Truly,  one  grows  weary  of 
this  constant  turmoil . " 

In  another  letter,  he  wrote  cheeringly,  .  .  .  .  "I 
have  heard  your  home  at  Fordham  called  'Fort  No.  8.' 
The  children,  in  some  American  Sunday-schools,  you 
know,  sing  a  hymn  with  the  refrain,  'Hold  the  Fort.' 
That  is  what  you  have  been  doing  in  a  great  many  direc- 
tions these  many  years,  and  you  are  doing  it,  I  know,  at 
present.  With  the  arrival  of  your  son  Christoph  from  the 
Fatherland,  you  have  received  a  strong  reinforcement ;  and 
that  always  gives  new  courage,  comfort  and  joy.  May  you 
experience  this  in  the  fullest,  richest  measure  !"    . 

When  this  noble  friend  passed  from  earth.  Dr.  Mann  was 
bowed  with  grief. 

The  many  subjects  of  common  interest  and  investigation 


172  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

that  occupied  the  two  theologians  necessitated  a  lively  cor- 
respondence and,  frequently,  a  long  exhaustive  conversa- 
tion. Especially  while  Dr.  SchafF's  home  was  in  Mercers- 
burg,  did  Dr.  Mann  often  enjoy  the  pleasure  of  his  society. 
"I  cannot  leave  my  post,"  he  writes,  "but  shall  expect  to 
see  you  here.  The  war  with  the  powers  of  ignorance 
permits  of  interruption  ;  but  the  fight  with  evil  permits  of 
no  armistice :  and  this  war,  we  clergymen  especially 
are  called  upon  to  wage  !"  So  the  short  spring  and  autumn 
vacations  were  often  passed  in  Philadelphia,  in  an  inter- 
change of  thought  that  was  delightful  and  stimulating  to 
both. 

In  later  years,  many  visits  were  exchanged  ;  though  they 
were  often  necessarily  shorter  because  of  the  pressure  of 
time  than  the  friends  could  have  wished.  For  neither  dis- 
tance, nor  many  cares,  nor  divergence  of  opinions  could 
loosen  these  strong  bonds  of  friendship.  Correspondence 
supplemented  the  personal  intercourse  that  distance  made 
impossible.  Hundreds  of  letters  passed  between  them  dur- 
ing the  years  of  their  work  in  America,  that  contain  a  his- 
tory of  their  lives  that  goes  far  deeper  than  the  narrative  of 
events  or  the  mere  account  of  their  labors.  Soul  speaks  to 
soul  from  out  those  written  pages,  which  cover  the  long 
years,  between  1845  and  the  month  of  June,  1892. 

In  a  letter  of  February,  '91,  Dr.  Mann  wrote  :  "  Your 
photograph,  just  received,  is  excellent.  It  represents  the 
real  Church  Father  with  a  touch  of  the  man  of  the  New 
World.  I  have  hung  it  beside  a  picture  of  our  dear 
Schwab,  just  left  of  my  writing  table,  and  every  moment  I 
have  you  two  exemplary  men  before  me  !"  And  his  friend 
writes  :  ' '  The  older  I  grow,  the  more  I  esteem  the  few  re- 
maining friends  of  my  youth.  You  and  Prentiss  are  still 
among  the  living.  Our  dear  Schwab  is  gone,  and  I  miss 
him  every  day  !" 

After  his  friend  was  called  home.  Dr.  Schaff  wrote  :  "I 
cannot  find   words  to  express   my  grief  at  the  loss  of  my 


PHILANTHROPIC  WORK   AND   FRIENDSHIPS.  1 73 

dear  life-long  friend  !  Oh,  liow  I  shall  miss  him  in  the  re- 
maining days  of  my  pilgrimage  !  He  is  the  oldest  friend  I 
had  on  this  Continent.  He  and  Gustav  Schwab,  both 
younger  than  myself,  and  yet  I  am  left  behind  to  mourn 
their  loss !' ' 


CHAPTER  XVIII. 

LITERARY  WORK,   1 860-1 892. 

T^HE  intellectual  impulse  whicli  had  incited  Dr.  Mann 
when  a  student,  to  write  accounts  of  his  summer 
journeys,  and  to  try  his  hand  at  the  delineation  of  character 
in  stories  for  the  young,  and  which,  in  the  first  years  of  his 
pastoral  work  in  America,  made  his  contributions  to  the 
Kirchejifrettnd  a  pleasure  as  well  as  a  duty,  never  permitted 
him,  in  his  busiest  days  as  pastor  and  professor,  to  lay  aside 
his  pen.  His  frequent  lament  is  that  other  work  permitted 
so  little  time  for  literary  labor.  But  in  examining  his 
papers,  note  books  full  of  excerpts,  preparations  for  lectures 
and  sermons,  that  fill  so  many  hundreds  of  closely  written 
pages,  it  seems  almost  as  though  he  must  nearly  always 
have  had  a  pen  in  his  hand. 

From  i860,  when  he  resigned  the  editorship  of  the 
Kirchenfreinid^  he  contributed  to  the  time  of  his  death  to 
the  Ltitherische  Zeitschrift^  (ed.  Rev.  T.  K.  Brobst)  which, 
in  later  years,  was  continued  as  Herold  u.  Zeitschrift  (T.  H. 
Diehl),  Here,  the  circle  of  readers  was  larger,  though  less 
literary,  than  that  of  the  Kirchenfreiind^  and  his  style 
became  more  popular.  His  articles  cover  a  very  wide  range 
of  subjects  and  deal  largely  with  the  practical  questions  of 
Christianity  and  its  application  to  the  social  needs  of  the 
day.  A  survey  of  the  political  condition  of  the  nations  of 
the  world,  he  gave  from  time  to  time,  in  these  columns,  in 
a  series  of  articles  called  ' '  Rundschau, ' '  that  were  deep, 
clear,  critical  and  exhaustive,  and  presented,  at  the  same 
time,  the  advance  of  God's  kingdom  in  the  world. 

To  th.Q  Jiigejtdfreitnd^  published  under  the  same  auspices, 
174 


LITERARY   WORK.  1 75 

Dr.  Mann  contributed  for  twenty  years.  His  "Letters  to 
my  Little  Friends,"  and  his  unique  descriptions  of  the 
illustrations,  under  the  signature  "  M.  S.  N,"  were  features 
of  the  paper.  He  knew  how  to  entertain  the  little  people, 
and  for  them  he  gave  vent  to  his  original  and  amusing  way 
of  viewing  things.  The  children  felt  while  reading,  that 
he  was  looking  over  their  shoulders  at  the  pictures,  and  they 
had  to  make  good  use  of  their  eyes  to  see  all  the  things  he 
noticed  and  wrote  of.  Though  he  often  made  them  laugh, 
he  never  failed  to  give  expression  to  some  thought  or  word 
that  was  suggestive  and  helpful  to  the  growing  souls. 

In  December,  1862,  the  first  number  of  the  Evangelische 
Zengnisse  appeared  which  Dr.  SchafF  called  into  being  and 
which  was  published  by  Ig.  Kohler,  Phila.  Dr.  Mann  not 
only  contributed  regularly  to  this  journal,  but  attended  to 
a  great  deal  of  the  editorial  work  as  well. 

As  early  as  1850,  he  had  written  to  Dr.  Schaflf,  "  Perhaps 
some  time  we  can  together  publish  a  collection  of  German 
sermons."  This  was  realized  in  the  Zeiignisse ;  but  by 
that  time.  Dr.  Mann  was  not  very  enthusiastic  about 
printed  sermons.  He  wrote  to  his  friend  in  '62,  "I  am  not 
able  to  make  any  promise  as  far  as  sermons,  essays  and  so 
forth,  are  concerned.  I  already  have  too  many  irons  in  the 
fire.  To  write  out  sennons  is  for  me  a  horrible  task, 
equalled  only  by  the  other  one,  of  hearing  or  reading  them, 
— my  own  included.  To  write  an  article  on  Luther's 
Smaller  Catechism,  I  feel  more  inclined." 

But  he  did  contribute  sermons,  nevertheless  ;  and  another 
letter  of  the  same  year  says :  "I  have  a  sennon  ready  for 
you, — 'War  and  how  Christians  regard  it;'  Text,  Ezek. 
xiv.,  17.  I  dislike  political  sermons  no  less  than  lectures  in 
the  pulpit.  I  never  delivered  a  political  sermon,  and  never 
shall.  But  to  view  matters  in  the  indisputable  light  of  the 
Gospel, — this  is  what  the  minister  has  to  do. 

"About  the  success  of  the  journal,  I  do  not  know  what  to 
say.     I  am  not  inclined  to  expect  a  large  circle  of  readers. 


176  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS    MANN. 

The  political  aspect  of  the  country  will  greatly  affect  the 
enterprise.  There  will  be  more  difficulty  about  refusing 
sermons  than  accepting  them." 

And  again  he  writes  :  ' '  My  article  on  Albert  Knapp  (the 
theologian  and  hymnologist)  is  finished,  and  ready  for  you 
at  any  moment.  I  suppose  it  will  fill  six  pages  of  the 
Zengnisse^ '  But  he  thought  it  "  a  crime  against  good  taste 
to  print  stale  sermons, ' '  and  his  own  written  ones  appeared 
to  him  "  as  mere  funeral  sermons  of  those  preached." 

In  1865,  he  edited  Ignatz  Kohler's  large  family  Bible. 
For  two  and  a-half  years,  he  was  occupied  with  this  work  ; 
writing  a  short  history  of  each  book,  indicating  the  contents 
of  the  chapters,  marking  copious  parallel  passages,  and 
preparing  preliminary  remarks  to  the  Old  and  New  Testa- 
ment, as  well  as  a  preface,  which  has  been  described  as 
"one  of  the  strongest  apologies  for  the  Bible  to  be  found 
anywhere. ' ' 

In  1875  and  '76,  he  wrote  popular  articles  on  social  and 
ethical  questions  for  the  Kirchenboten. 

For  the  Lutheran  and  Missionary^  especially  while  Dr. 
Chas.  Porterfield  Krauth  was  its  editor  and  in  the  years 
immediately  succeeding,  he  also  wrote,  furnishing  articles 
on  European  affairs  and  Gennan  theological  literature. 

In  later  years  (1882-91),  he  wrote  frequently  for  the 
Lutheran  Church  Review.  His  subjects  were  drawn  from 
the  large  domain  of  theological  science  ;  and  he  contributed 
especially  interesting  and  exhaustive  essays  on  ethical  and 
philosophical  questions.  Among  the  most  important  of 
these  essays  for  the  Reviezv^  is  a  series  of  philosophical 
articles  on  Benedict  de  Spinoza,  and  four  papers  on  Albrecht 
Ritschl  and  his  theology,  which,  following  his  bent  for 
philosophical  investigation,  he  made  a  subject  of  special 
study. 

The  literary  work,  however,  to  which  he  devoted  most 
time  and  labor  during  the  last  twelve  years  of  his  life  was 
the  early  history  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America.     He 


LITERARY   WORK. 


177 


was  introduced  to  this  subject  when  in  1879,  the  publishing 
house  of  Brobst,  Diehl  &  Co.,  Allentown,  Pa.,  requested 
him  to  prepare  a  new  edition  of  tlie  "Halle  Reports." 

Heinrich  Melchoir  Muhlenberg,  the  Patriarch  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  America,  a  missionary  from  the  Franke 
Institute  at  Halle,  during  the  last  century  organized  the 
first  Lutheran  congregations  in  Pennsylvania;  and  together 
with  his  associates  in  the  missionary  and  pastoral  work 
frequently  reported  to  the  Superintendent  at  Halle  the  con- 
ditions and  needs  of  the  German  Lutherans  in  the  New 
World.  The  relation  between  the  missionaries  in  America 
and  the  "Fathers"  in  Germany  was  very  close.  The 
laborers  in  the  new  and  distant  field  were  directed  to  keep 
records  of  their  work,  diaries  of  their  experiences  in  the 
American  field  of  labor,  and  to  remain  in  constant  corres- 
pondence with  their  patrons  in  Germany.  These  letters 
and  communications  were  not  only  preserved  in  the 
archives  at  Halle;  but  extracts  and  poitions  of  them 
were  printed,  and  distributed  in  Germany  among  those 
who  sent  contributions  to  further  the  work  in  America, 
with  the  object  also  of  awakening  increased  interest  in  the 
cause.  Sixteen  successive  reports  of  this  kind  were 
printed  in  Germany  between  1 744-1 786.  In  1787  they 
appeared  in  two  large  volumes,  under  the  title  of  the 
"Halle  Reports."  These  records,  now  of  comparatively 
little  interest  in  Germany,  where  they  were  published,  are 
of  vast  importance  to  the  Lutherans  of  America,  for  they 
are  the  history  of  the  seed-time  and  the  first  fruits  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  the  New  World. 

Shortly  after  the  middle  of  this  century,  it  was  not  pos- 
sible to  buy  a  copy  of  the  "  Halle  Reports.''  A  new  edi- 
tion of  the  work  was,  therefore,  an  acknowledged  want. 
But  as  Dr.  Mann  says  in  the  Preface  to  the  new  edition, 
"  The  idea  simply  to  reprint  the  'Reports'  in  their  original 
form  was  not  to  be  entertained.  For  they  contain  a  great 
number  of  references  to  events,  persons  and  circumstances 


178  MKMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JUUUS   MANN. 

here  and  in  Germany  which  could  be  well  understood  when 
written;  but  which,  in  the  lapse  of  time,  have  become 
quite  unintelligible.  To  the  modern  reader,  therefore, 
they  appear  fragmentary,  puzzling  and  unsatisfactory'. 
Neither  did  they,  by  any  means,  contain  all  that  the  mis- 
sionaries reported  to  the  'Fathers.'  Only  such  portions 
as  were  considered  desirable  and  suitable  had  been  selected 
for  publication.  A  new  edition  of  the  work,  therefore,  to 
be  intelligible  and  useful  to  the  present  generation 
demanded  copious  supplementary  explanations."  To  write 
this  commentary  was  the  task  to  which  Dr.  Mann  applied 
himself.  In  the  work,  he  was  assisted  by  the  late  Rev.  Dr. 
B.  M.  Schmucker,  pastor  of  the  Church  of  the  Transfigura- 
tion, Pottstown,  Pa.,  and  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  Germann,  of 
Wasungen,  Saxen-Meiningen,  Germany.  The  archives  of 
Halle  were  rich  in  material,  and  under  the  direction  of  Dr. 
Germann  thousands  of  pages  were  copied  and  sent  to  Dr. 
Mann.  Even  for  so  assiduous  and  rapid  a  worker  as  he,  it 
was  the  labor  of  years  to  arrange  these  and  to  become  master 
of  their  contents.  This  manuscript  he  eventually  had  bound 
in  four  large  volumes.  Other  sources,  as  well,  were  dili- 
gently searched,  the  congregational  records  of  the  older 
churches  in  Pennsylvania  were  investigated  and  the  avail- 
able sources  of  historical  information  conscientiously  fol- 
lowed up. 

Soon  after  he  began  his  labors  in  this  new  field,  he  wrote 
to  Dr.  Schaff":  "  I  have  been  asked  to  edit  anew  the  '  Halle 
Reports  '  with  annotations  and  historical  explanations.  So 
I  am  in  the  midst  of  it,  and  search  and  collect  and  arrange 
a  great  mass  of  material  in  order  to  throw  light  on  some 
points  that  may  be  of  interest  to  the  Lutheran  Church. 
The  work  incites  me,  nevertheless,  and  I  learn  a  good  deal 
at  the  same  time. ' ' 

This  literary  undertaking  was  of  a  very  different  charac- 
ter from  any  in  which  he  had  before  been  engaged.  With 
his  ready  pen,  he  had  been  accustomed,    after  occupying 


LITERARY  WORK. 


179 


his  mind  for  a  time  with  his  subject,  to  quickly  write 
page  after  page.  Some  of  those  ponderous  long  articles  in 
the  Kirchen/reund  vfQTQ.  written  at  one  sitting,  or  cost  him, 
as  he  said,  "all  the  spare  hours  of  a  day."  But  here,  one 
knotty  little  question  about  a  locality,  or  the  identification 
of  a  certain  individual,  demanded  days,  and  sometimes 
weeks  of  investigation;  and  his  patience  was  as  great  as 
his  happiness,  when  the  difficulty  was  finally  overcome,  and 
the  truth  established. 

An  increased  correspondence  added  to  his  labors.  Not 
only  with  his  co-workers  were  there  questions  always  to  be 
discussed,  or  discoveries  to  be  communicated  and  received; 
but  inquiries  were  set  on  foot  in  various  directions.  Wher- 
ever a  little  ray  of  light  that  gave  promise  of  a  clearer  vista 
beyond  was  detected,  the  clue  was  followed  up.  From  quite 
unexpected  quarters  sometimes,  a  helping  hand  was 
stretched  forth  ;  and  it  is  needless  to  say,  eagerly  and  grate- 
fully grasped.  Here  and  there,  the  pamphlets  in  which 
the  new  edition  of  the  "  Halle  Reports  "  appeared,  as  each 
section  was  ready  for  the  press,  attracted  the  attention  of 
those  who  had  made  a  study  of  the  early  history  of  their 
own  vicinity;  and  they  perceived  that  a  whole  flood  of  light 
was  being  thrown  on  those  early  colonial  days. 

Errors  which  former  publications  had  perhaps  promul- 
gated, points  on  which  uncertainty  or  absolute  dark- 
ness had  obtained,  were  being  presented  in  the  liglit  of 
historic  evidence  ;  and  letters  and  visits  from  those  who 
took  an  interest  in  these  questions  were  frequent.  In 
investigating  subjects  pertaining  to  a  special  locality,  no  one 
was  so  indefatigable  or  exact  in  research  as  Mr.  J.  C.  Hon- 
eyman,  of  New  Germantown,  N.J.  The  letters  he  wrote 
answering  questions  and  following  up  investigations,  Dr. 
Mann  had  bound,  and  the  MS.  volume  contains  no  less  than 
290  closely  written  pages.  His  gratitude  and  indebtedness 
to  Mr.  Honeyman  has  found  expression  in  a  number  of  in- 
stances in  the  Commentary. 


l8o  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

The  first  volume  of  tlie  new  edition  of  the  "  Halle  Re- 
ports" with  the  Commentary  was  given  to  the  public  in 
1886.  This  is  by  far  the  most  important  and  difficult  por- 
tion of  the  work,  because  the  elucidation  of  the  first  parts 
clears  up  to  a  great  extent,  the  references  of  the  second. 
This  work  had  been  a  "labor  of  love,"  and  its  accomplish- 
ment was  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  and  happiness. 

But  this  was  not  the  only  fruit  of  his  labors  in  this  de- 
partment. Various  subjects  to  which  his  attention  had  been 
directed  specially  interested  him,  and  from  time  to  time  a 
volume  from  his  pen  appeared .  ' '  Good  Old  Times  in  Penn- 
sylvania" (1880),  "The  Life  and  Labors  of  Wm,  Penn  " 
(1882),  and  "  Ein  Aufgang  im  Abendland "  (1883),  were 
written  while  he  was  at  work  on  the  "Halle  Reports."  The 
last  named  is  a  history  of  early  mission  work  among  the 
Indians. 

In  188 1  he  yielded  to  the  repeated  requests  of  many  of 
his  clerical  friends  and  published  a  volume  of  sermons, 
under  the  title,  "  Heilsbotschaft ' '  (Tidings  of  Salvation). 
The  book  is  a  precious  legacy  to  those  who  have  been  edi- 
fied by  his  preaching.  Very  rarely  did  Dr.  Mann  refer  to 
any  reviews  of  his  works  or  any  recognition  of  his  liter- 
ary labors.  But  he  was  gratified  when  in  a  theolog- 
ical and  literary  monthly  published  in  Leipsic,  Germany, 
a  review  of  the  "Heilsbotschaft"  estimated  his  sermons 
very  highly,  and  criticised  unfavorably  only  the  modesty  of 
the  author,  that  caused  the  volume  to  be  so  small.  It  con- 
tains twenty  sermons,  in  several  cases  the  same  text  being 
the  subject  of  two  successive  discourses. 

In  1884,  in  remembrance  of  the  350th  anniversary  of  the 
completion  of  Luther's  Translation  of  the  Bible,  Dr.  Mann 
wrote,  ' '  Das  Buch  der  Buecher  und  Seine  Geschichte  "  (The 
Book  of  Books  and  its  Histor>^).  He  gives  in  his  unique, 
simple,  popular  style  the  history  of  the  development  of  lan- 
guage, the  various  forms  of  written  records  that  have  come 
down  to  us;  and  then,  concisely,  the  history  of  the  Sacred 


LITERARY   WORK.  l8l 

Writings  and  their  various  translations,  especially  those  of 
the  days  of  the  Reformation. 

In  1887,  "The  Life  and  Times  of  Heinrich  Melchior 
Muhlenberg  "  appeared,  the  most  important  of  his  historical 
works,  which  grew  out  of  his  studies  for  the  new  edition  of 
the  "  Halle  Reports.''  "  During  my  researches  concerning 
the  early  history  of  Lutheranism  in  this  country,"  he  writes, 
"my  interest  in  Muhlenberg  as  a  man,  a  Christian,  a  rep- 
resentative of  the  Church,  a  missionary  to  the  dispersed 
Lutherans,  and  an  organizer  of  Lutheran  congregations,  a 
spiritual  father  to  many  souls,  a  most  judicious  counsellor 
of  his  colaborers,  could  but  increase."  He  carried  out  the 
work  with  exhaustive  research,  entering  into  minute  detail, 
and  presenting  a  picture  of  the  social  condition  of  that 
period  as  well  as  a  life-like  portraiture  of  the  great  and  good 
"Father  Muhlenberg." 

The  following  is  a  short  extract  from  a  review  of  the 
work  taken  from  the  Public  Ledger^  June  15,  1887: 

"  Dr.  Mann  has  diligently  searched  for,  collected  and  examined  a  mass 
of  material,  bearing  upon  the  life  and  work  of  Muhlenberg.  Carefully- 
written  diaries,  papers  from  the  archives  of  the  Orphan  House  at  Halle,  in 
Germany;  reports  and  correspondence  have  been  consulted  in  the  prepara- 
tion of  this  volume.  It  is  in  every  way  an  adequate  biography  of  the 
Patriarch  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America.  The  author  has  admirably 
succeeded  in  portraying  Dr.  Muhlenberg  as  the  man.  Personal  traits  and 
characteristics  are  continually  brought  out  in  the  course  of  the  narrative. 
The  position  of  Dr.  Muhlenberg  in  regard  to  the  Confessions,  the  use  of 
the  liturgy,  and  his  views  of  ministerial  authority  are  clearly  defined. 
The  reader  is  impressed  throughout  that  the  memoir  is  worthy  of  the 
subject." 

A  few  sentences  from  the  letters  of  friends,  expressive  of 
their  estimate  of  the  work  are  appended. 

From  Dr.  B.  M.  Schm ticker. 

"The  picture  is  drawn  so  fully,  so  clearly  and  with  .such  ad- 
mirable proportioning  of  the  features  of  the  man,  that  it  is  not  merely 
the  first  description  of  him  which  is  at  all  adequate,  but  it  will  remain 
permanently  the  one  authoritative  life  of  him." 


1 82  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Frovi  Dr.  W.  Germajin  of  Wasungen,  Saxen-Meinitigen,  Germany. 

"With  all  my  heart,  I  rejoice  that  you  have  been  enabled 

to  finish  the  '  Life  of  Muhlenberg.'  And  how  soon  you  accomplished  it! 
I  did  not  expect  it  until  the  autumn!  The  book  has  afforded  me  unusual 
pleasure,  and  I  wish  for  nothing  further  than  that  I  might  talk  the  whole 
work  and  the  details  of  it  over  with  you.  For  the  author,  too,  I  know,  it 
is  a  satisfaction  to  talk  with  one  who  is  at  home  in  the  field. 

"  Two  things  I  now  fully  recognize  :  i,  the  biography  had  to  be  written 
in  America;  and  2,  your  correct  foresight  about  the  necessity  of  your 
having  the  material  of  the  archives.  You  most  admirably  control  the 
great  quantity  of  material  and  have  proved  yourself  a  master  in  the  art  of 
condensing.  I  confess  I  have  been  astonished  by  the  conciseness  of  the 
narrative  after  the  return  from  Georgia.  This  was  the  period  in  which  I 
expected  the  greatest  amount  of  material  new  to  me,  and  I  was  not  dis- 
appointed. .  .  .  Excuse  my  tardy  thanks  for  your  admirable  work 
and  permit  me  cordially  to  shake  your  industrious  hand  ! " 

From  Dr.  Philip  Schaff. 

' '  This  morning  I  received  your  most  welcome  present  of  the  biogra- 
phy of  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg.  It  is  a  noble  monument  to  the 
Patriarch  of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  America.  I  hope  it  will  be  duly 
appreciated  and  meet  with  a  large  sale.  I  am  glad  you  wrote  it  in  Eng- 
lish, the  language  of  this  country,  in  which  all  that  is  good  in  the  German 
Churches  must  be  perpetuated  for  the  benefit  of  future  generations  .  .  .' 

From  Dr.  G.  F.  Krotel. 

' '  This  morning  brought  me  that  handsome  volume,  '  Life  and  Times 
of  H.  M.  Muhlenberg,'  in  which  you  have  erected  the  noblest  literary 
monument  that  good  man  has  yet  received,  as  well  as  a  monument  to  your- 
self. I  could  not  wait  until  I  had  read  the  book  to  write  of  its  arrival ; 
but  after  looking  at  it,  reading  the  preface,  the  table  of  contents,  and  some 
pages  at  the  close,  I  sit  down  to  thank  you  for  sending  it,  and  still  more 
for  writing  it.  The  sips  which  I  have  taken,  and  an  examination  of  the 
contents  convince  me  that  there  is  in  store  for  me  and  thousands  of  others 
a  volume  of  most  instructive  and  edifying  reading,  and  that  we  have  in 
your  book  the  noblest  biography  so  far  produced  by  a  Lutheran  author  in 
our  country.  The  specimen  bricks  that  I  have  examined  satisfy  me  as  to 
the  character  of  the  entire  structure " 

From  Dr.  Joseph  A.  Seiss. 

"I  congratulate  you   on  the  completion  and  appearance  of 

the  book,  and  much  rejoice  in  the  fullness  of  its  contents  and  the  admir- 


LITERARY  WORK.  183 

able  faithfulness  with  which  it  presents  the  founder  and  true  typical  re- 
presentative of  our  Lutheran  Church  in  this  Countrj'.  I  cannot  but  wish 
that  its  influence  may  be  to  foster  in  our  ministers  and  people  that  spirit, 
which  was  so  consistently  and  commendably  displayed  by  the  worthy  sub- 
ject of  your  dignified  and  welcome  volume." 


From  Prof.  Oswald  Seidcnsticker. 

"  I  \\-ish  you  could  know  how  deeply  grateful  I  am  for  your  goodness  in 
sending  me  your  admirable  work  on  INIuhlenberg.  I  regret  not  to  be 
able  to  repay  like  with  like.  It  must  now  be  recognized  as  a  fortunate 
circumstance  that  Muhlenberg's  biography  was  not  written  until  a  century 
after  his  death  ;  for  in  you,  the  worthy  follower  of  the  Patriarch  of  the 
Lutheran  Church  in  America,  was  the  right  man  found  to  accomplish  this 
work.  It  is  true,  that  the  halo  surrounding  Muhlenberg's  name  was  not 
dimmed  by  the  lapse  of  years  ;  but  his  claim  to  greatness  now  rests 
through  your  labors  on  a  true,  historic  basis.  Partially,  you  had  already 
proved  this  by  your  commentary  to  the  '  Halle  Reports  ;'  but  to  show 
Muhlenberg's  true  value  required  a  separate  literary  monument." 


From  Dr.  Charles  J.  Stille. 

"  The  book  gives  me  a  double  pleasure,  that  of  surprise  and 

that  the  work  of  writing  this  biography  should  have  been  undertaken  by 
the  man  most  fitted  to  treat  so  inspiring  a  theme.  I  cannot  wait  until  I 
have  readit  to  express  my  thanks  ;  but  I  must  express  my  deep  satisfaction 
now,  that  so  important  and  hitherto  so  neglected  a  portion  of  our  State 
history  should  be  treated  by  such  competent  hands. ' ' 


In  the  ''Memorial''  Dr.  Spaeth  says : 

"There  is,  no  doubt,  a  providential  significance  in  this  concentration  of 
Dr.  Mann,  in  the  ripest  years  of  his  life,  upon  our  patriarch  H.  M.  Muh- 
lenberg and  his  times.  As  stated  above,  he  did  not  take  an  active  part 
in  the  controversies  and  labors  that  engaged  the  General  Council  after  its 
immediate  organization.  There  was  much  in  those  details  that  was  neither 
attractive  nor  interesting  to  him.  But  as  he  busied  himself  in  his  quiet 
study  and  drew  for  us  the  life-like  picture  of  that  noble  man  of  God,  whom 
all  parties  cannot  but  revere  and  accept  as  the  best  tj'pe  of  Lutheranism  in 
America,  he  contributed  the  most  important  building  material  for  the  fu- 
ture unity  of  our  Church  in  this  countrj',  proving  beyond  the  possibility  of 
a  contradiction,  that  the  position  of  the  General  Council  is  not  only  correct 
in  principle  and  theorj-,  but  also  the  true  historical  one,  in  the  very  begin- 
ning of  a  Lutheran  church  organization  in  America." 


184  MEMOIR  OF  WII^I^IAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

In  the  spring  of  1891,  Dr.  Mann  was  requested  by  the 
Ministerium  to  continue  his  work  on  the  "Halle  Reports," 
that  body  having  entered  into  an  agreement  with  the  pub- 
lisher to  secure  the  completion  of  the  new  edition.  With 
accustomed  energy  and  with  the  old  love  he  applied  him- 
self to  the  work.  One  of  his  former  associates  in  this  un- 
dertaking, the  Rev.  Dr.  B.  M.  Schmucker,  had  been  called 
from  his  labors  on  earth  in  1888,  Even  during  April  and 
May  of  1892,  Dr.  Mann  wrote  assiduously  at  the  Comment- 
ary, though  he  was  then  suffering  from  the  distressing 
effects  of  the  attack  of  heart  failure,  which  had  seized  him 
the  preceding  October.  During  that  winter,  after  he  had 
been  so  suddenly  enfeebled,  he  said  several  times :  "lam 
glad  that  enough  of  the  Commentary  is  written  to  make 
the  whole  work  intelligible  ;  but  I  may  live  to  finish  it  after 
all!" 

In  February,  1 891,  he  was  requested  by  Ignatz  Kohler,  the 
publisher,  to  write  in  German  the  life  of  Christopher  Co- 
lumbus, to  mark  the  fourth  centenary  of  his  great  discov- 
ery. During  the  spring  and  early  summer.  Dr.  Mann  col- 
lected his  material  and  he  completed  the  manuscript  of  this 
work  while  away  from  home  during  the  summer  vacation. 

Among  other  things,  he  says  in  the  preface  : 

"The  great  Italian  unlocked  the  doors  of  the  roomy  house,  into  which 
the  surplus  of  the  nations  of  western  Europe  have  moved  and  where  they 
have  made  themselves  at  home.  For  them  all,  and  therefore  for  us  Ger- 
mans in  the  United  States,  his  discovery  and  with  it  the  wonderful  and 
extraordinary  experiences  of  his  life  possess  a  high  and  abiding  interest. 
And  just  now,  after  the  lapse  of  four  hundred  years,  that  great  world-his- 
toric event  and  the  man  who  was  providentially  designed  to  bring  it 
about  are  again  called  into  lively  remembrance. ' ' 

He  lays  no  claim  in  this  little  book  of  two  hundred  pages 
to  "new  discoveries  in  this  department  of  history,"  but 
has,  he  says,  "presented  the  results  of  the  latest  researches 
of  those  who  made  this  particular  field  their  study. ' '     The 


LITERARY   WORK.  1 85 

proof  sheets  of  Columbus,  read  in  IMarch,  1892,  were  the  last 
he  examined. 

In  September,  1891,  he  prepared  by  request  a  condensed 
sketch  of  the  life  of  H.  M.  Muhlenberg  in  German.  It  is 
a  book  of  only  seventy-seven  pages,  and  he  had  the  mate- 
rial all  at  command.  In  his  desire  to  pursue  his  work  on 
the  Commentary,  he  was  most  anxious  to  have  this  little 
book  out  of  the  way,  and  he  accomplished  the  whole  work 
in  ten  days.  When  it  appeared  about  six  weeks  afterwards, 
his  unusual  vigor  had  succumbed  to  his  untiring  exertions 
and  he  was  suffering  from  great  weakness  and  exhaustion. 


CHAPTER  XIX. 

PASTOR  EMERITUS.     1884— 1892. 

TN  a  letter  to  Dr.  Schaff,  written  some  years  after  the  Sem- 
inary  was  opened,  Dr.  Mann  referring  to  his  exertions 
as  pastor  and  professor,  conchides  :  "God  knows  how  long 
this  span  will  run.  Usually,  one  wagon  has  two  horses, 
but  in  this  case,  one  horse — and  that  a  poor  one — is  pulling 
two  wagons!"  And  he  did  "pull  the  two  wagons"  for 
twenty  years.  Twice  during  that  period,  he  had  resigned 
as  professor,  seeing  it  was  impossible  to  leave  his  congrega- 
tion. But  Synod  would  not  acccept  the  resignation,  de- 
siring rather  that  the  pastoral  work  should  be  discontinued. 
"  Both  offices,  "  he  writes  elsewhere,  "  that  of  the  preacher 
and  that  of  professor,  accord  well  with  one  another ;  so 
long  as  the  Lord  gives  strength  to  fulfil  their  duties,  the  one 
becomes  a  blessing  to  the  other."  And  the  Lord  did  give 
strength.  In  the  decade  from  1870-80,  diary  and  letters 
often  express  his  astonishment  at  being  able  to  endure  more 
exertion  and  accomplish  more  work  than  he  could  ' '  twenty 
years  ago." 

But  in  1 88 1  and  1882,  Dr.  Mann  began  to  be  greatly 
troubled  by  sleeplessness.  After  2  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
he  could  find  no  rest.  This  alarming  symptom,  little  as  he 
regarded  it  himself,  awakened  the  deepest  solicitude  of  his 
wife,  and  at  her  earnest  desire,  he  resigned  his  pastorate  in  the 
following  year.  The  thought  that  a  younger  man  might  in 
many  respects,  especially  in  view  of  the  future,  be  of  greater 
service  to  the  congregation,  influenced  him  in  taking  this 
step.  The  resignation  was  not  accepted,  but  he  was  re- 
186 


PASTOR   EMERITUS.  1 87 

lieved  of  all  pastoral  work  except  the  Sunday  morning 
sermon,  by  the  appointment  of  Rev.  E.  Niedecker  as  assist- 
ant pastor. 

In  little  more  than  a  year  thereafter,  however,  on  the  i6th 
of  November,  1884,  Dr.  Mann  preached  his  farewell  sermon 
to  the  congregation,  having  ministered  to  it  for  thirty-four 
years.  The  church  was  filled  to  its  utmost  capacity,  the 
Trustees  of  the  German  Hospital  attended  the  service  in  a 
body,  and  there  were  few  in  the  large  assembly  unmoved 
by  the  discourse.  His  text  was  the  23d  verse  of  the  20th 
chapter  of  Acts:  "And  now,  brethren,  I  commend  you  to 
God  and  to  the  Word  of  His  grace,  which  is  able  to  build 
you  up,  and  to  give  you  an  inheritance  among  all  them 
which  are  sanctified." 

After  reviewing  his  labors  in  the  congregation,  and  its 
history-  since  1850,  in  doing  which  he  dwelt  especially  upon 
the  first  two  words  of  his  text,  he  spoke  with  gratitude  of 
the  ties  of  love  that  bound  him  to  his  people,  applying  to 
them  the  Apostle's  words  as  given  in  the  German  version: 
"beloved  brethren."  Continuing,  he  said:  "It  is  but 
natural  that  to  a  congregation,  to  which  has  been  devoted 
the  labor  of  thirty-four  of  life's  best  years,  one  can  never 
grow  indifferent.  Least  of  all  could  this  be,  when  in  his 
work  and  with  his  people,  the  pastor  has  been  happy.  Look- 
ing back  upon  these  years,  the  question  proposes  itself :  'What 
have  I  really  accomplished  during  this  long  period? ' 
'  What  is  in  reality  the  result  and  gain  for  eternity  ? '  And 
this  question  is  enough  to  humble  me,  and  bow  me  down, 
and  take  away  any  inclination  to  glory.  And  yet  I  may 
say  that  though,  in  my  younger  years,  I  felt  no  special  de- 
sire for  preaching,  I  have  been  most  happy  in  this  particu- 
lar function  of  my  ministerial  office.  The  Apostle  truly 
says :   'If  a  man  desire  the  office  of  a  bishop,  he  desireth  a 

good  work.' And  how,   dear  friends,  can  I 

thank  you  for  everything  which  in  all  these  years  you  have 
done  for  me  and  mine?     I  know  that  some  of  you  cannot 


1 88  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

understand  that  I,  who  am  so  hale  and  strong,  should  want 
to  leave  yon.  And  it  is  indeed  not  my  intention  to  spend 
my  remaining  years  in  idleness.  As  professor  in  our  Sem- 
inary, through  the  young  pastors  there  prepared  for  the 
ministry,  my  influence  may  still  benefit  the  Church  at 
large.  And  when  we  have  passed  nearly  three-score  and 
six  years  of  life's  journey,  we  know  that  bodily  and  mental 
strength  is  not  increasing,  but  growing  gradually  less. 
And  I  am  sure  you  would  not  desire  that  I  should  remain 
among  you  until  I  am  old  and  exhausted  in  mind  and  body, 
and  continue  my  labors,  rather  to  the  detriment  than  the 
benefit  of  the  congregation.  Let  your  hearts  the  rather  go 
out  to  the  young  man  of  your  choice  who  is  to  become  your 
pastor  in  my  stead.  And  may  the  Lord  bestow  a  rich  bless- 
ing upon  his  labors  ! 

"What  better  thing  can  I  now  do  than  say  with  the 
Apostle:  'I  commend  you  to  God  and  the  Word  of  His 
grace  which  is  able  to  build  you  up,  and  to  give  you  an 
inheritance  among  all  them  which  are  sanctified. '    .    .    . 

"And  may  Almighty  God  preserve  you  through  the  power 
of  His  might  in  the  true  faith,  and  may  you  be  builded 
up,  individually  and  together,  as  lively  stones  for  an 
habitation  of  God  through  the  Spirit,  that  ye  may  the 
more  and  more  attain  unto  the  measure  of  the  stature  of 
the  fullness  of  Christ.  And  may  he  preserve  you  from  all 
evil  and  clothe  you  in  the  wedding  garments  for  the  mar- 
riage supper  of  the  Lamb,  that  among  all  them  which  are 
sanctified  he  may  give  you  an  inheritance, — the  inheritance 
of  the  saints  in  light.  Zion,  hold  that  fast  which  thou  hast, 
that  no  man  take  thy  crown.  !" 

It  was  with  the  deepest  sorrow  that  the  people  parted 
with  their  beloved  pastor,  and  many  tokens  of  affectionate 
regard  testified  of  their  love  and  reverence.  Knowing  well 
his  love  of  music  and  that  he  often,  while  living  next  door 
to  the  church,  played  on  the  great  organ,  on  which  he  was 
an   excellent  performer,   they  presented  him  with  a  fine 


PASTOR   EMERITUS.  189 

organ  for  his  new  home  in  West  Philadelphia.  He  was 
made  Pastor  Emeritus  of  the  congregation  and  in  the  re- 
maining years  of  his  life  preached  occasionally  from  his  old 
pulpit  or  lectured  in  Zion  Church  for  some  charitable  cause. 

The  love  of  his  people  remained,  though  they  did  not  see 
him  frequently,  as  in  former  days.  In  any  great  sorrow  or 
any  especial  happiness  that  came  to  them,  they  turned  to 
him  for  sympathy.  And  he  loved  them  always  and  to  the 
end.  During  the  months  of  his  last  illness,  no  token  of 
love  or  affection  from  any  quarter  so  deeply  touched  him  as 
the  kindly  remembrances,  affectionate  letters  and  personal 
inquiries  of  members  of  his  former  congregation. 

Often  in  the  days  when  Dr.  Mann  had  been  most  pressed 
by  labors  and  cares,  he  looked  forward  to  a  time  when  he 
would  enjoy  greater  leisure.  In  a  letter  to  Dr.  Schaff,  he 
writes  :  "  You  say  truly, — *  no  rest  this  side  of  the  grave  ! ' 
And  yet  the  desire  for  a  quiet  evening  of  life  comes  again 
and  again ;  a  time  for  retrospection,  a  looking  on  rather 
than  actively  taking  part  in  all  this  toil,  a  time  calmly  to 
view  the  Beyond  and  to  shed  this  mortal  coil !  Yet,  to  be 
called  off  quickly  in  the  midst  of  work  is,  perhaps,  after  all 
the  best. ' '  After  he  had  resigned  the  congregation,  when 
his  lectures  in  the  Seminary  occupied  him,  and  his  other 
hours  were  free  for  literary  work,  though  besides  all  this 
he  often  preached  on  Sundays, — these  years,  busy  as  they 
would  have  seemed  to  many,  were  to  him  years  of  compar- 
ative leisure.  And  he  enjoyed  the  leisure,  because,  as  he 
said  :  "  It  gives  me  time  to  work  "  ! 

His  health  was  apparently  soon  completely  restored. 
When  his  family  remonstrated  because  he  preached  so  often, 
he  used  to  say:  "  I  look  so  well,  that  I  have  no  excuse  for 
refusing. ' ' 

The  calls  upon  him  were  very  frequent.  Between  Febru- 
ary, 1885,  and  October,  1891,  he  preached  one  hundred  and 
ninety-five  times.  If  the  nine  months  passed  in  Europe 
during  that  period  and  the  summer  months  be  excluded, 


190  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JUUUS   MANN. 

there  remain  few  Sundays  when  he  was  not  in  the  pulpit. 
And  his  labors  extended  over  a  wide  field.  Besides  preach- 
ing on  various  occasions  in  all  the  German  churches  in 
Philadelphia,  including  the  beautiful  chapel  of  the  Mary 
J.  Drexel  Home,  and  in  quite  a  number  of  the  English 
ones,  he  delivered  sermons  in  forty-four  congregations  out- 
side of  the  city,  and  in  many  of  these  he  preached  two  or 
three  times.  His  former  students  begged  him  to  present 
the  cause  of  the  Seminary  or  of  Missions,  or,  perhaps,  to 
preach  at  some  church  festival  for  them  ;  and  the  people, 
having  seen  and  heard  him  once,  wanted  him  to  come 
again.  His  warm,  loving  sympathy,  and  his  practical, 
popular,  persuasive  eloquence  found  its  way  direct  to  their 
hearts.  Nor  were  his  journeyings  limited  to  Pennsylvania  : 
in  Washington,  New  York,  Brooklyn,  Albany,  even  in 
Pittsfield,  Mass. ,  he  preached  to  lyUtheran  congregations. 

One  pastor  wrote  to  another,  both  of  whom  had  called 
upon  him  for  the  same  Sunday  :  "Your  letter,  with  the 
earnest  request  to  leave  Dr.  Mann  free  to  preach  at  the  re- 
dedication  of  your  church,  has  just  been  received.  As  we 
have  not  yet  made  our  arrangements,  my  installation  can 
take  place  a  week  later.  I  know  the  happiness  of  your 
festival  would  be  sadly  marred  if  he  could  not  be  with  you, 
and  I  wish  with  all  my  heart  that  you  should  enjoy  having 
him  on  that  festive  day." 

Among  the  churches  in  which  he  last  preached  anniver- 
sary sermons  were  St.  Paul's,  Philadelphia,  when  it  cele- 
brated its  semi-centenary,  and  St.  Jacobus  and  Emmanuel's, 
Philadelphia,  which,  twenty-five  years  before,  he  had  also 
dedicated.  One  of  his  last  sermons  was  delivered  in  St. 
Johannis,  Philadelphia,  where  nearly  twenty-five  years  before 
he  had  laid  the  corner-stone.  The  last  sermon  was  preached 
on  the  twenty-fifth  of  October,  1891,  in  the  chapel  of  the 
Seminary  at  Mt.  Airy. 

During  these  years,  he  also  lectured  frequently,  either 
for  some  benevolent  object  or  at  a  general  festival  of  the 


PASTOR  EMERITUS.  191 

Church.  Here  especially  his  orations  on  Luther  at  the 
Academy  of  IMusic  on  the  loth  November,  1883,  and  at 
Steinway  Hall,  New  York,  may  be  recorded. 

In  the  autumn  of  '87,  centennial  memorial  services  of 
the  death  of  Heinrich  Melchior  Muhlenberg  were  held  in 
many  congregations  in  eastern  Pennsylvania  ;  and  Dr. 
Mann  was  often  called  upon  to  speak  on  the  life  and  labors 
of  the  man  whose  biography  he  had  completed  on  the  cen- 
tennial of  his  death  and  "devoted  to  his  memor}\ "  On 
this  subject,  he  addressed  the  Trustees,  Professors,  and 
students  of  Muhlenberg  College,  Allentown,  Pa. ,  on  Octo- 
ber 31st,  of  that  year. 

After  his  return  from  Europe  in  '89,  he  lectured  no  less 
than  eight  times  on  the  experiences  of  his  journey.  The 
first  of  these  lectures  was  delivered  in  Zion  Church  to  his 
old  congregation,  which  gave  him  on  the  occasion  a  cordial 
welcome  home.  "Rome,"  "Paris,"  "Nuremberg,"  "What 
we  learn  by  Traveling,"  were  among  the  subjects  of  this 
series. 

In  June,  1888,  the  Trustees  of  Muhlenberg  College  con- 
ferred upon  Dr.  Mann  the  degree  of  LL.  D.  After  making 
mention  of  the  fact,  his  diary  characteristically  remarks, 
"which  did  not  make  me  greater,  wiser,  nor  better!" 
In  1890,  he  delivered  an  elaborate  essay  to  the  students  of 
the  College,  on  the  "Choice  of  a  Profession." 

In  September,  1888,  he  attended  the  meeting  of  the 
General  Council  in  Minneapolis,  Minnesota.  Besides  the 
interest  which  the  work  of  the  Church  naturally  offered 
him  at  the  sessions  of  the  Council,  he  was  delighted  with 
his  journey,  and  the  sight  of  the  great  West,  and  its  mar- 
velous growth  and  progress. 

In  188 1,  he  had  once  more  been  elected  President  of  the 
Ministerium  of  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the  next  year,  he 
declined  another  nomination.  For  many  years,  he  was 
Archivarius  of  the  Synod,  and  to  his  energetic  exertions, 
the  systematic  arrangement  of  the  large  mass  of  archives 


192  MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

from  the  last  century  to  the  present  time  is  due.  He  put 
the  vast  quantity  of  records,  letters  and  so  forth,  into 
chronological  order  at  the  expense  of  a  great  deal  of  time, 
and  has  thus  made  them  readily  available  for  reference  and 
research.  He  zealously  collected,  also,  everything  that 
might  be  of  use  or  interest  in  this  department,  and  in  this 
way  added  largely  to  the  historical  and  literary  value  of 
the  archives. 


CHAPTER  XX. 

HOME   LIFE.    JOURNEYS  TO   EUROPE  IN  '89  AND  '90. 

AFTER  the  greater  leisure  which  came  with  the  relief 
from  the  many  pastoral  cares  that  consumed  so  much 
time,  Dr.  Mann's  family  enjoyed  more  than  ever  before  his 
dear  companionship.  In  his  deep  love,  his  bright  stimu- 
lating intellectuality,  his  never-failing  humor,  which  was 
always  readiest  and  best  at  home,  their  happiness  was  bound 
up.  He  had  always  taken  the  liveliest  and  kindliest  interest 
in  the  little  details  of  home  life,  and  his  help  and  sym- 
pathy were  given  in  fullest  measure  to  those  about  him. 
Whatever  interested  his  dear  ones  was  of  interest  to  him. 
There  was  no  visiting,  no  acquaintance,  no  book  read,  that 
he  did  not  care  to  hear  all  about.  He  had  time  for  all  those 
little  things  that  make  family  life  lovely.  If  anyone  of  his 
family  was  ill,  his  thoughtful  tenderness  knew  no  end,  and 
he  loved  to  be  able,  personally,  to  minister  to  the  sick  one. 
His  strong  personality  and  his  ready  sympathy  could  not 
but  give  the  best  impulses  and  the  highest  meaning  to  life. 
The  homes  of  his  two  married  daughters  were  very  near 
his  own,  and  their  daily  visits  and  those  of  the  grand- 
children completed  his  content.  In  the  summer  house 
which  he  had  built  in  his  garden,  how  many  delightful 
hours  in  the  spring  and  autumn  were  passed  !  It  was  the 
general  rendezvous  of  the  family  after  breakfast,  and  then 
he  was  always  full  of  life  and  buoyant  spirits.  The  study, 
which  so  many  of  his  friends  know,  and  where  in  the  quiet 
morning  hours  he  was  always  at  his  desk,  was  very  dear  to 
him.  Before  he  had  taken  possession  of  the  room,  he  dis- 
covered with  delight  that  he  could  plainly  see  from  it  the 
steeple  of  Zion  Church. 

13  ^93 


194  MEMOIR  OF  WIIvLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

With  his  grandsons,  especially  the  eldest  ones  "Walter" 
and  "Julius,"  he  made  any  amount  of  fun,  and  to  the  end 
of  his  life  he  was  their  merry  companion,  entering  into 
their  interests  and  their  pleasures.  The  beloved  Grandpapa 
always  helped  to  trim  the  Christmas  tree  ;  and  even  in  the 
last  year  of  his  life,  that  dear  hand  decorated  it  for  the  happy 
festival. 

During  the  autumn  and  winter  of  '88,  Mrs.  Mann's 
health  became  a  great  source  of  anxiety.  The  physicians 
recommended  a  journey  to  Carlsbad,  which  was  undertaken 
in  the  spring  of  '89,  not  without  many  misgivings,  espe- 
cially on  the  part  of  Dr.  Mann,  because  of  the  extreme 
weakness  of  the  dear  patient.  Traveling,  however,  had  a 
very  beneficial  effect,  and  after  the  cure  at  Carlsbad  was 
begun,  Mrs.  Mann  was  so  much  better  that  she  persuaded 
her  husband  to  join  his  friend.  Rev.  Dr.  Chas.  S.  Albert, 
of  Baltimore,  on  a  visit  to  Italy. 

The  most  beautiful  incident  of  this  trip  to  Europe  was 
the  meeting  in  Antwerp,  immediately  upon  landing,  of  Dr. 
Mann  and  his  brother,  the  Rev.  Adolph  Mann.  As  the 
steamer  drew  up  to  the  dock,  the  faces  of  those  awaiting 
her  arrival  on  shore  were  eagerly  scanned,  as  the  dear  stran- 
ger was  expected  to  meet  the  party.  Dr.  Mann  had  hardly 
stepped  ashore,  when  a  gentleman  said  to  him,  "Is  this  Dr. 
Mann?"  "No,"  said  he,  " it  is  your  brother  !"  and  in  an 
instant  they  were  in  each  other's  embrace.  For  forty-four 
years  they  had  not  met,  not  since  parting  in  Strassbourg  in 
1845.  Though  both  had  been  several  times  in  the  Father- 
land in  the  long  interval,  their  visits  could  not  be  arranged 
at  the  same  time.  But  constant  correspondence  had  kept 
the  tie  of  brotherhood  very  close,  and  it  was  as  dear  and 
sympathetic  friends  they  met.  The  Rev.  Adolph  Mann 
had  again  at  that  time  made  his  home  in  Stuttgart,  after 
his  zealous  labors  of  more  than  thirty-five  years  in  the  mis- 
sion field  at  I^agos,  West  Africa,  and  had  come  to  Antwerp 
to  welcome  his  brother.     The  re-union  was  the  source  of 


JOURNEYS  TO   EUROPE   IN    '89   AND   '90.  195 

much  happiness,  and  when  they  parted  a  few  days  after  at 
Cologne,  there  was  the  prospect  of  an  early  meeting  in  Stutt- 
gart, where  later  in  the  summer  a  very  delightful  visit  was 
paid  by  Dr.  Mann  and  his  wife  and  daughter. 

En  route  to  Carlsbad,  the  party  visited  Hanover,  Berlin 
and  Dresden,  and  after  his  family  was  comfortably  settled 
at  Carlsbad,  and  he  had  been  assured  by  the  physician 
that  his  wife's  health  would  be  benefited  by  the  cure, 
Dr.  Mann  joined  Dr.  Albert.  From  Milan  to  Naples,  and 
from  Genoa  to  Venice,  the  friends  traversed  Italy.  The 
charms  of  Italian  scenery,  its  tropical  vegetation,  the  rich 
treasures  of  art,  the  relics  and  monuments  of  antiquity 
made  the  weeks  spent  in  that  classic  land  a  season  of  rich 
enjoyment,  that  left  most  delightful  reminiscences. 

In  his  articles  "From  Afar,"  sent  to  the  Herold  u.  Zeits- 
chrift,  Dr.  Mann  from  time  to  time  gave  impressions  and 
descriptions  of  his  journey.  The  following  is  a  short  extract 
from  an  article  written  in  Rome  : 

"It  is  an  old  proverb,  that  says  'all  roads  lead  to  Rome.'  That  one 
can  arrive  there  from  any  starting  point  is,  doubtless,  true  ;  but  not  that 
one  must.  And  after  arriving  there,  much  will  depend  upon  what  one 
carries  within  him,  and  what  is  the  object  of  the  visit. 

"Should  the  traveler,  in  this  venerable  City  of  three  thousand  years, 
inquire  for  the  road  leading  to  the  South,  he  will  be  directed  to  a  high- 
way that  contains  more  remnants  of  the  old  imperial  Rome  than  any 
other  site,  and  that  offers  for  many  reasons  a  deep  interest  to  us  as  Chris- 
tians. Upon  this  road,  the  Apostle  Paul  traveled  to  Rome,  and,  truly,  it 
was  a  good  way,  that  led  him  thither.  Upon  this  highway,  the  brethren 
went  to  meet  him  as  far  as  Appii  Forum,  '  whom  when  Paul  saw,  he 
thanked  God  and  took  courage.'  Paul,  indeed,  was  in  the  company  of 
Luke  ;  but  the  friendly  greeting  of  the  brethren  from  Rome  must  have 
cheered  his  heart.  Rome,  in  which  the  lion  Nero  was  raging,  and  before 
whom  Paul  knew  he  had  to  appear,  was  yet  unknown  to  the  Apostle. 
But  even  in  that  day,  there  was  in  that  great  worldly  city,  a  little  com- 
pany who  knew  and  acknowledged  the  Lord  Jesus.  And  this  congrega- 
tion in  the  midst  of  the  millions  of  heathens  was  well  known  to  Paul. 
He  had  heard  of  it  when  in  Greece  and  Asia  Minor  ;  he  had  taken  a  lively 
interest  in  these  first  followers  of  Christ  in  the  midst  of  the  great  throb- 
bing centre  of  the  heathen  empire  of  the  world ;  and  with  intelligent 
foresight  he  had  recognized  the  importance  of  this  congregation,  knowing 


196  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

that  many  roads  led  not  only  to  Rome,  but  that  many  led  also  from  Rome 
into  all  the  countries  and  peoples  of  the  world,  and  that  they  might  be- 
come highways  for  the  tidings  of  salvation.  And  they  did  become  so. 
Therefore  had  the  Apostle  written  that  Epistle  to  the  Romans, — testifying 
not  only  of  his  brotherly  love  for  them,  but  of  his  apostolic  insight  into 
the  mystery  of  faith,  and  justification  by  free  grace  through  it.  And, 
verily,  that  message  is  an  "epistle  to  the  Romans"  even  at  this  late 
day 

"  Yet  another,  altogether  different  interest  appeals  to  us  as  Christians 
on  this  famous  Appian  way.  Several  miles  southward  from  the  city,  and 
on  the  right  of  the  road,  there  lies  a  garden  through  which  one  enters  the 

Catacombs I  confess,  that  in  these  deep,  dark  underground 

passages,  among  the  sacred  dust  of  the  early  saints,  my  soul  was  far  more 
deeply  moved  and  animated  than  amidst  the  glorious  display  of  color  and 
statuary  and  the  magnificent  architectural  proportions  of  St.  Peter's, 
within  whose  wide  walls  there  is  enough  room  to  accommodate  a  respect- 
able town.  For  I  must  acknowledge,  that  to  me,  St.  Peter's  did  not  seem 
to  suit  at  all  for  the  place  of  assembly  of  a  Christian  congregation,  that 
meets  to  hear  the  gospel  tidings  of  the  crucified  Savior,  and  that  in  peni- 
tence and  faith  desires  not  to  glorify  itself,  but  to  honor  Him.  The  great 
Cathedral  is  a  great  palace,  a  pompous  building  for  the  glorification  of  a 
world-swaying  popedom  ;  but  God's  kingdom  is  not  of  this  world!  There 
ever}i;hing  appeals  powerfully  to  the  senses,  and  the  countless  riches  of 
papal  wealth  reveal  themselves  in  the  gold,  marbles  and  paintings  every- 
where displayed;  this  all  rather  distracts  than  concentrates  and  elevates 
the  soul.  How  much  more  serious  and  elevating  are  the  emotions 
evoked  in  the  solemn,  venerable  naves  of  a  Gothic  cathedral  !  I  was 
astonished  to  find  so  few  worshippers  in  the  great  church,  on  a  fine  Sun- 
day morning Indeed,  just   on  Sunday  one  receives  the 

impression  that  Rome,  notwithstanding  its  four  hundred  churches  is  not 
a  very  pious  city.  The  churches  generally  were  not  well  attended. 
Masses  of  people  promenaded  the  streets  ;  booths  and  stores  were  open, 
and  only  the  costumes  worn,  gayer  and  finer  than  on  week-days,  indicated 
that  it  was  Sunday " 

"  Before  the  Piazza  del  Populo  lie  the  stones  that  are  said  once  to  have 
formed  the  stairway  leading  to  the  Judgment  Hall  of  Pontius  Pilate  in 
Jerusalem.  When  Martin  Lvither,  full  of  devout  and  humble  veneration, 
visited  Rome,  he  ascended  these  steps  upon  his  knees.  He  did  not  do  it 
after  he  had  been  in  Rome  for  a  time.  But  that  was  the  same  man,  who, 
a  few  years  later,  confronted  the  Emperor  and  potentates  of  the  realm,  to 
testify  against  popedom  and  to  confess  the  Lord  Jesus  and  His  Gospel. 
First  humble,  then  brave  ! " 

After  the  Italian  tour,  Dr.  Mann  rejoined  his  family  at 
Carlsbad,  and  after  spending  a  few  days  with  his  co-laborer 


JOURNEYS  TO   EUROPE   IN   '89   AND   '9O.  I97 

on  the  "Halle  Reports,"  Dr.  Wilhelm  Germann  in  Wa- 
siingen,  Saxen-Meiningen,  lie  enjoyed  a  visit  from  Dr.  and 
Mrs.  Hermann  Hilprecht,  with  whom  he  also  afterwards 
went  to  Ivcipsic,  where  he  had  the  pleasure  of  meeting 
Prof.  Dr.  Tholuck  and  Prof  Dr.  Franz  Delitzsch,  the  great 
theologians  and  renowned  authors. 

After  the  Carlsbad  cure  was  completed,  the  family  went 
by  way  of  Nuremberg,  Munich  and  Ulm  to  Kirchheim,  near 
Stuttgart,  where  in  the  beautiful  home  of  Mr,  and  Mrs. 
Robert  Otto,  a  delightful  fortnight  was  passed.  Later, 
some  very  happy  days  were  spent  in  Stuttgart  in  the  society 
of  Rev.  Adolph  Mann  and  his  charming  wife;  and  the  rela- 
tives who  had  known  each  other  through  correspondence 
onh^,  were  soon  the  warmest  and  most  sympathetic  friends. 

The  journey  home  was  made  by  way  of  Strassbourg  and 
Paris,  which  to  its  many  interests  added  that  year  the  at- 
tractions of  the  Exposition .  Toward  the  end  of  September, 
the  party  arrived  safely  once  more  in  Philadelphia. 

When  in  the  spring  of  1890,  it  had  been  decided  that 
Mrs.  Mann  would  again  have  to  visit  Carlsbad,  Dr.  Mann's 
brother  in  Stuttgart  wrote  to  him:  "That  we  shall  soon 
again  greet  each  other  on  the  soil  our  dear  parents  trod  is 
the  source  of  ver>'  great  rejoicing  here.  But  it  shall  not 
prevent  me  from  most  heartily  wishing  you  for  your  ap- 
proaching birthday  all  the  good  that  mortal  souls  need  to 
feel  perfectly  content  and  happy !  When  the  review  of  life 
and  labor  bears  the  motto,  'to  the  glory  of  God,'  as  yours 
does,  it  prognosticates  good  also  for  the  future  ;  and  what 
better  can  I  wish  for  you  than  that  your  future  life  and 
work  may  be  increased,  strengthened  and  completed  in  this 
same  spirit!" 

Dr.  Mann  and  his  wife  and  daughter  were  accompanied 
on  this  journey  by  one  of  his  married  daughters  and  her 
husband  and  son.  This  trip,  because  of  Mrs.  Mann's  im- 
proved health  was  even  more  enjoyable  than  that  of  the  pre- 
ceding year.  The  time  passed  at  Carlsbad,  which  is  so  roman- 


198  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

tic  in  situation  and  offers  so  many  attractions  to  the  lover 
of  nature,  was  most  delightful.  Dr.  Mann  remained  with 
his  family  during  the  month  they  sojourned  there,  which 
he  had  not  done  in  the  previous  summer.  He  made  many 
interesting  acquaintances  among  the  evangelical  clergy 
visiting  in  Carlsbad,  and  enjoyed  the  intercourse  with  them 
very  much.  The  life  in  the  open  air,  the  enforced  rest — he 
wrote  only  letters  and  articles  for  the  Herold  11.  Zeitschrift 
— were  most  beneficial  to  him.  His  wife's  health  was  almost 
completely  restored,  and  that  added  blessing  made  the 
summer  very  happy. 

The  visits  in  Stuttgart  and  at  Kirchheim  were  especially 
delightful  experiences.  Later  in  the  season,  at  Lucerne, 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  met  their  daughter  and  son-in-law, 
who  had,  while  the  others  were  at  Carlsbad,  been  traveling 
in  Switzerland.  The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter 
they  received  from  Dr.  Mann,  while  on  their  journey : 

"It  is  a  peculiar  satisfaction  to  me,  that  in  thought  I  am 

able  to  accompany  you  to  a  considerable  extent  on  your  route.  Time  and 
again,  I  came  up  Lake  Zurich  to  Rapperschwyl,  where,  on  that  island  is 
the  resting  place  of  Ulrich  vou  Hutten,  that  humanist  of  the  i6th  century, 
who,  without  understanding  that  powerful  faith,  which  was  the  main- 
spring of  Luther's  reformatory  activity,  sympathized  with  Luther,  in 
whom  he  saw  the  herald  of  a  new  age  of  freedom,  and  to  whom  he  offered 
his  sword  and  his  satirical  pen,  of  neither  of  which  Luther  wished  to 
make  use. 

"I  also,  after  passing  the  Linth  Canal  crossed  Lake  Wallen,  dark  and 
deep  and  most  romantic.  Right  well,  too,  I  remember  Ragatz  and 
Pfaeifers.  (The  old  Romans  knew  the  place  and  the  springs  and  called  it 
Via  Fera,  which  was  corrupted  to  Pfaeffers.  All  that  region  is  full  of 
names  traceable  to  Latin).  In  that  Tamina  Gorge,  I  walked  on  boards 
suspended  in  iron  chains  to  the  hot  springs.  It  does  me  good  to  follow 
you  all  through  that  region. 

' '  From  Pfaeffers,  I  crossed  over  the  mountain  ridge  into  the  valley  of 
the  Rhine  and  came  to  Coire  (Curia  in  Latin).  Opposite  the  town,  on  the 
other  side  of  the  Rhine,  I  see  still  rising  before  me  that  giant,  uncouth 
and  unclothed,  the  Calanda  Mountain,  raising  its  head  thousands  of  feet 
to  the  clouds.  In  its  neighborhood,  some  years  ago,  a  terrible  landslide 
occurred,  driving  the  people  out  of  house  and  home,  and  destroying  a 
village. 


JOURNEYS  TO   EUROPE   IN    '89   AND   '90.  IQQ 

"  I  can  follow  you  up  to  Thusis  and  the  Via  Mala,  from  which  I  then 
pursued  mv  course  to  Andeer  (a  large  village,  all  Romansch,  in  which 
language  the  waitress  at  the  inn  gave  me  some  valuable  instruction),  and 
to  Spluegen  and  Rheinwald,  from  which  point  I  crossed  the  mountain- 
pass,  and  struck  out  through  the  deep  snow  for  the  Mesocco  Valley,  and 
came  down  to  Bellinzona. 

"  From  Thusis,  I  cannot  follow  you  up  to  Dissentis  and  Lake  Alpnach, 
but  find  you  again  at  Andemiatt,  and  go  down  the  valley  with  you  to 
Fluellen  and  across  the  grand  Vier^valdstaeter  to  Lucerne.  All  these 
are  magnificent  scenes.— Switzerland  is  the  park  of  Europe,  as  Italy  is  its 
museum  of  fine  arts  and  its  world  historic  cemetery." 

In  September,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Mann  and  their  daughter  and 
grandson,  whose  parents  extended  their  tour  to  Italy,  turned 
their  faces  homeward.  By  way  of  Schaffhausen,  the  Black 
Forest  route,  Baden  Baden,  Worms,  Wiesbaden,  the  Rhine 
and  Cologne,  Antwerp  was  safely  reached. 

Dr.  Mann  enjoyed  unusually  good  health  during  the 
journey.  He  climbed  to  the  tower  of  the  Cologne  Cathedral, 
and  seemed  not  to  feel  that  it  was  a  great  exertion.  He 
was  full  of  life  and  activity,  and  never  said  that  he  felt 
fatigued  while  traveling. 

On  the  day  of  the  opening  of  the  autumn  session  of  the 
Seminary,  he  was  present,  having  arrived  from  Europe  the 
day  before.  All  the  following  winter,  he  labored  with  his 
usual  indefatigable  zeal  and  love  of  work.  The  only  inter- 
ruption occurred  at  the  end  of  November,  when  he  had  a 
severe  attack  of  lumbago,  which  w^as  much  aggravated  by 
his  heroic  disregard  of  the  pain  at  first,  when,  without  tell- 
ing his  family  that  he  suffered,  he  went  to  ML  Airy  and 
delivered  three  successive  lectures  to  his  students. 

But  he  appeared  fully  to  have  recovered  after  a  few  weeks; 
and  in  the  spring  was  glad  that  his  wife's  health  did  not 
necessitate  another  trip  to  Europe,  as  he  had  so  much  liter- 
ary work  awaiting  him.  In  May,  he  attended  for  the  last 
time,  the  meeting  of  the  Ministerium  at  Pottstown,  Pa. ; 
and  it  was  at  this  session  he  was  requested  to  continue  his 
work  on  the  "  Halle  Reports." 


CHAPTER   XXI. 

THE  LAST  YEAR. 
June  1891-JuNE  1892. 

AFTER  the  summer  vacation  at  tlie  Seminary  began  in 
1891,  Dr.  Mann  devoted  himself  assiduously  to  liter- 
ary work.  He  was  so  desirous  of  continuing  the  "  Halle 
Reports ' '  that  he  would  have  liked  to  stay  at  home  all 
summer,  and  only  on  his  wife's  account  did  he  leave  the 
city  during  July  and  August.  While  away  from  home,  he 
completed  the  manuscript  of  the  life  of  Columbus. 

Several  weeks  of  July  were  spent  at  Saratoga,  where  for 
more  than  a  week,  a  severe  attack  of  lumbago  caused  him 
much  suffering.  Happily,  the  subsequent  visit  to  the  White 
Mountains  quite  restored  him  ;  and  after  the  sojourn  there, 
some  time  was  spent  at  Pigeon  Cove  on  the  Massachusetts 
coast,  where  he  enjoyed  the  sea-shore  more  than  he  had 
ever  enjoyed  it.  He  took  great  delight  in  the  bold  rocks 
and  dashing  waves,  and  when  he  left  there,  it  was  with  the 
thought  that  he  would  like  to  return  at  some  future  time. 

It  was  his  earnest  desire  to  be  at  home  some  weeks  before 
the  Seminary  opened.  The  month  of  September  of  that 
year  was  unusually  hot.  But  full  of  energy,  and  apparently 
as  full  of  strength,  he  labored  during  that  month  and  the 
next  with  all  the  ardor  of  his  nature.  He  preached  every 
Sunday  ;  in  ten  days  of  September  he  wrote  the  ' '  Life  of 
Muhlenberg"  in  German,  before  referred  to  ;  and  beside 
his  usual  hours  at  the  Seminary,  he  gave,  by  special  request 
of  the  students,  several  extra  lectures  every  week. 

On  Tuesday,  Oct.  27th,  he  lectured  three  hours  in  the 
morning ;     in   the    afternoon,    he    had    business    in    the 
200 


THE   LAST  YEAR.  20I 

city  that  occupied  him  until  4  o'clock.  From  that  time 
until  six,  he  was  at  literary  work  in  his  study  and  in 
the  evening  attended  a  meeting  of  the  trustees  of  the  Ger- 
man Hospital.  It  is  not  surprising  that  his  wife  was  deeply 
concerned  about  him  when  at  half-past  ten  he  returned  from 
the  Hospital.  But  he  was  in  excellent  spirits  and  said  that 
he  "  was  all  right,  but  tired."  The  next  morning,  how- 
ever, he  did  not  feel  well,  and  did  not  rise  until  6  o'clock. 
When  about  to  take  breakfast,  he  was  seized  with  violent 
pain  in  the  chest.  Alarmed  at  his  pallor,  his  wife  and 
daughter  ministered  to  him  and  in  a  few  moments,  his  son- 
in-law.  Dr.  C.  L.  Mitchell,  was  at  his  side.  The  family 
physician  who  was  immediately  summoned,  at  once  recog- 
nized the  seizure  as  a  most  serious  one.  It  was  heart-failure 
that  laid  him  low,  who  until  that  moment  had  been  full  of 
life,  energy  and  activity.  But  before  the  close  of  that  day, 
new  hope  filled  his  dear  ones,  for  the  heart  recovered  some- 
what under  the  powerful  stimulating  medicines  administered, 
and  the  terrible  pallor  and  coldness  disappeared. 

In  the  weeks  and  months  that  followed,  Dr.  ]\Iann  suffered 
at  times  most  severely.  The  great  distress  in  breathing 
after  the  slightest  exertion,  was  a  sore  trial.  And  he  always 
"  felt  tired,"  a  feeling  that  he  had  rarely  known  in  former 
days,  even  after  great  exertions.  But  he  was  hopeful, 
cheerful,  patient,  and  altogether  lovely  !  Nothing  could 
have  been  more  beautiful  than  the  assurance  to  his  dear 
ones,  repeated  every  morning  :  "I  think  I  am  better  to-day  ! 
I  certainly  feel  a  great  deal  stronger  this  morning  !  And 
such  a  good  night's  rest,  I  did  not  get  in  fonner  years  !" 
In  health,  he  had  rarely  slept  more  than  six  hours  of  the 
night  ;  now  he  could  sleep  for  eight  or  nine. 

His  sudden  and  severe  illness  was  a  great  shock  to  the 
Lutheran  community.  From  every  quarter  came  messages 
and  visits  of  sympathetic  inquiry.  The  students  felt  the 
loss  of  their  professor  most  keenly,  and  hoped  against  hope, 
that  time  mi"-ht  restore  him  to  them.     But  before  the  close 


202  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

of  the  year,  recognizing  that  his  days  of  active  work  were 
over,  he  sent  in  his  resignation  as  professor.  By  a  resolu- 
tion of  the  Faculty,  his  name  was  not  taken  from  the  list 
of  professors,  and  the  hope  was  expressed  that  in  the  future, 
he  might  still  from  time  to  time,  perhaps,  deliver  lectures 
to  the  students. 

Before  his  illness,  the  celebration  of  the  fiftieth  anniver- 
sary of  his  entrance  into  the  ministry  had  been  proposed  by 
the  Alumni  of  the  Seminary  ;  but  Dr.  Mann  refused  to 
have  it  publicly  mentioned.  In  commemoration  of  his 
long  and  active  service  in  the  Church,  the  Faculty  of  the 
Seminary  presented  him,  through  Dr.  C.  W.  Schaeffer, 
their  Senior,  with  resolutions,  highly  appreciative  of  his 
character,  influence  and  labors.  This  recognition  by  his 
colleagues  touched  him  deeply  and  made  him  very  happy. 

Those  long  months  of  inactivity  that  winter  were  sweet- 
ened as  well  by  his  own  patient  submission  and  almost 
constant  cheerfulness  as  by  the  many  visits  of  dear  friends, 
kind  and  helpful  letters  from  far  and  near,  and  many  tokens 
of  affectionate  remembrance.  The  sick  room  was  always 
bright  with  flowers,  the  sweet  offerings  of  love  and  esteem. 

At  Christmas,  Dr.  Mann  was  so  far  restored,  that  he  was 
able  thoroughly  to  enjoy  the  visit  of  Dr.  Schaff,  who  spent 
the  day  with  him.  The  friends  were  very  happy  in  each 
other's  society,  on  this,  their  last  meeting  on  earth.  Dr. 
Hilprecht  was  also  present  at  the  Christmas  dinner,  and 
Dr.  Mann  felt  particularly  grateful  that  his  strength  per- 
mitted him  to  fully  participate  in  the  conversation,  and  his 
friends  scarcely  realized  that  he  was  no  longer  vigorous  as 
of  old. 

Toward  the  close  of  February,  his  physician  who  had  de- 
sired him  to  leave  home  for  a  warmer  climate,  persuaded 
him  at  least  to  go  for  a  time  to  Atlantic  City.  There,  dur- 
ing the  month  of  March,  he  gained  visibly.  In  a  letter  to 
Dr.  Schaff,  written  at  that  time,  he  said  warningly,  "Take 
care  of  yourself,  and  do  not  demand  of  the  veteran  of  seventy- 


THE   LAST  YEAR.  203 

two,  what  the  jitvcnis  of  forty-five  could  easily  perform. 
This  was  my  mistake!"  He  read  the  proof  of  "Colum- 
bus," wrote  many  letters,  amused  himself  by  sketching  or 
extemporizing  on  the  piano,  and  was  out  doors  every  day 
for  some  hours,  when  the  weather  permitted.  The  sea-air 
and  the  change  were  very  beneficial,  and  when  he  returned 
to  his  home  in  April,  he  had  greatly  improved. 

Unfortunately,  he  often  allowed  his  energy  to  make  him 
oblivious  of  suffering  and  exhaustion.  He  devoted  himself 
again  to  the  "Halle  Reports,"  and  during  the  next  two 
months  wrote  the  notes  to  two  continuations, — a  great  phy- 
sical eflfort,  irrespective  of  the  mental  labor  and  research  in- 
volved. 

Twice  he  attended  the  meetings  of  the  Pastoral  Associa- 
tion at  Mt.  Airy,  and  Dr.  Spaeth  says  in  the  "Memorial," 
he  "made  one  of  his  most  brilliant  extempore  addresses  in 
the  May  meeting  on  the  condition  and  influence  of  the 
Jews  in  modern  histor}'. ' '  He  went  a  number  of  times  on 
Thursday  afternoons  to  the  German  Hospital  and  the  Mary 
J.  Drexel  Home,  and  was  also,  once  at  the  Orphans'  Home 
at  Germantown.  He  went  in  and  out,  happy  to  be  able 
once  more  to  attend  church,  to  go  down  town  on  business 
matters,  and,  sometimes,  too,  to  surprise  his  friends  by 
repaying  some  of  the  many  visits  that  they  had  made  him 
during  the  winter. 

A  day  that  Dr.  Krotel  spent  with  him  in  ]\Iay  was  long, 
happily  anticipated,  and  he  was  well  enough  to  be  able 
thoroughly  to  enjoy  his  friend's  society.  On  the  afternoon 
of  the  same  day,  Rev.  Alex.  Richter,  President  of  the  New 
York  Ministerium,  also  called  upon  him,  and  found  him, 
as  he  afterwards  wrote,  "no  longer  in  his  former  accus- 
tomed sparkling  liveliness  and  vigor,  but  unspeakably  dear 
in  his  gentleness  and  geniality  and  in  the  winning  friendli- 
ness of  his  manner." 

In  the  early  spring,  Dr.  Mann's  only  son,  Mr.  Edwin 
R.  IVIann,  had  been  married  and  had  sailed  for  Europe  with 


204  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

his  bride.  He  returned  on  the  27th  of  May,  and  on  the 
29th,  his  father's  birthday,  a  happy  family  festival  was 
quietly  celebrated. 

On  the  ist  of  June,  Mrs.  Mann's  mother,  Mrs.  John 
Rommel,  Sr.,  died  in  her  89th  year.  She  had  enjoyed  re- 
markable vigor  until  within  a  few  weeks  before  the  close  of 
her  life, and  fell  peacefully  asleep  surrounded  by  her  children, 
Dr.  Mann  and  a  number  of  her  grandchildren.  She  had  in- 
deed been  a  "Mother  in  Israel,"  and  her  long,  beautiful 
and  useful  life  was  the  source  of  joy  and  blessing  to  chil- 
dren, grandchildren  and  great-grandchildren.  On  the  4th 
of  June,  she  was  laid  to  rest  in  Laurel  Hill  cemetery,  be- 
side the  father  and  grandfather  who  had  so  long  preceded 
her  to  that  better  home  ;  and  Dr.  Mann,  who  was  tenderly 
attached  to  her,  read  the  burial  service  at  her  grave. 

Warm  weather  was  very  unfavorable  to  his  condition  ; 
and  his  family  and  the  physician  were  most  anxious 
that  he  should  escape  the  heat  of  the  summer  months. 
He  willingly  acceded  to  all  arrangements  and  expressed  a 
preference  for  Pigeon  Cove,  where  during  the  preceding 
summer  he  had  enjoyed  the  invigorating  air.  On  Wednes- 
day, the  15th  of  June,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  two 
daughters  and  his  grandson,  Walter  Mann  Mitchell,  he  left 
home  in  cheerful  and  hopeful  mood.  On  that  morning,  he 
received  several  visitors,  and  sat  for  a  while  at  his  piano,  ex- 
temporizing and  playing  some  of  his  favorite  compositions. 
He  seemed  to  feel  able  to  bear  the  journey  and  suffered  ap- 
parently no  discomfort.  He  enjoyed  the  early  evening  on 
the  Sound  steamer ;  and  when  he  retired  shortly  after  nine 
o'clock,  he  fell  into  a  peaceful  sleep  which  lasted  until 
three  in  the  morning.  At  that  hour,  he  awoke  with  a  ter- 
rible sense  of  oppression  and  suffocation.  The  usual  rem- 
edies afforded  little  relief,  and  for  two  hours  he  suffered  in- 
tensely. By  and  bye,  a  decided  reaction  set  in,  and  he  was 
able  at  nine  o'clock  to  take  the  train  for  Boston.  On  the 
way,  he  fell  into  a  gentle  sleep  and  when  he  arrived  there. 


THE   LAST   YEAR.  205 

he  said,  "  Let  us  go  at  once  to  Pigeon  Cove  !  I  can  stand 
the  journey,  and  I  do  not  want  to  detain  you  all  in  the 
city  !" 

But  he  was  willing  to  do  as  his  wife  and  daughters 
thought  best,  and  without  having  pennitted  him  to-  make 
any  exertion,  a  rolling  chair  having  been  secured  at  the 
depot,  he  was  soon  safely  in  very  comfortable  apartments 
at  the  Thomdike  Hotel. 

In  the  afternoon,  somewhat  against  his  wish,  a  physician 
was  summoned.  In  the  emergency,  the  friendship  of  Mr. 
John  L.  Bremer,  of  Boston,  a  connection  by  marriage  of 
Mrs.  Mann  and  a  life-long  friend  of  the  family,  was  a  great 
source  of  comfort ;  and  his  thoughtful  and  helpful  ministra- 
tions lessened  the  burden  of  external  care  in  the  days  of 
sorrow  which  were  coming.  The  doctor  enjoined  rest  and 
the  use  of  the  medicines  prescribed  at  home.  On  the  fol- 
lowing day,  Friday,  he  found  Dr.  Mann  enjoying  the  view 
of  the  Common  and  gardens  in  an  arm  chair  at  the  window, 
and  he  spoke  hopefully  of  the  journey  to  Pigeon  Cove, 
thinking  that  if  nothing  intervened,  it  could  be  undertaken 
on  the  next  Monday. 

But  the  frequent  recurrence  on  Friday  night  and  on 
Saturday  of  severe  attacks  of  difficulty  in  breathing,  fol- 
lowed by  profuse  perspiration  were  most  alarming.  In  an 
arm  chair  or  on  the  sofa,  surrounded  by  his  dear  ones,  he 
passed  the  greater  part  of  Saturday  and  Sunday,  cheerful 
and  most  patient.  He  was  interested  in  all  that  passed, 
and  was,  as  usual,  full  of  thought  and  even  merry.  He  was 
concerned  as  always,  for  those  about  him  ;  and  not  a  mur- 
mur passed  his  lips.  On  Sunday  morning,  the  physician 
could  no  longer  give  his  stricken  family  any  hope  of  pro- 
longing that  precious  life  on  earth. 

But  in  those  last  hallowed  days,  he  was  mercifully  spared 
the  knowledge  of  his  extreme  weakness,  and  as  he  had  suffered 
similar  attacks  during  the  months  past,  he  talked  hope- 
fully of  being  better  soon,  and  was  so  sweet,  and  patient 


2o6  MEMOIR  OF  WII.LIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

and  calm,  that  the  strength  that  upheld  him,  was  vouch- 
safed also  to  his  dear  ones.  Now  and  then  he  repeated  a 
Bible  verse  or  hymn.  Early  on  Sunday  morning,  when  it 
began  to  dawn  and  one  of  his  daughters  told  him  that  day  was 
coming,  he  said,  "OJesu,  suesses  Liclit,  nun  istdie  Nacht 
vergangen  ! ' '  and  he  repeated  the  beautiful  hymn.  After 
Sunday  at  noon,  he  spoke  little,  because  he  was  so  weak, 
but  every  word  was  full  of  encouragement  and  perfect 
trust.  When  his  wife  sat  beside  him,  and  held  his  hand  in 
hers,  he  often  fell  peacefully  asleep.  During  these  days, 
he  was  not  unconscious,  nor  was  his  mind  wandering, 
except  once  or  twice,  for  a  few  moments,  when  he  seemed 
to  be  lecturing  to  his  students  ;  and  once  from  out  those 
higher  realms  to  which  we  could  not,  alas,  follow  him,  he 
said,  "  I  am  on  the  high  road  !  "  At  another  time  he  spoke 
the  name  of  his  absent  daughter,  Clara. 

On  Monday  morning  he  did  not  ask  for  his  spectacles. 
It  was  the  first  time.  At  noon  his  son  arrived.  The  father 
clasped  him  in  his  arms.  In  the  early  afternoon  he  rested 
quietly  without  anodynes.  Once,  on  awakening  he  made 
a  humorous  remark  about  himself  and  was  amused  at  it. 
Another  time,  he  said  aloud,  "  Ersitzt  im  Regimente  und 
fuehret  AUes  wohl  !  "  At  twenty  minutes  past  five  in  the 
afternoon,  having  taken  a  few  drops  of  ice  water  which  his 
wife  held  to  his  lips,  he  smiled  and  said,  "Thank  you. 
Mamma  !"  and  a  few  moments  thereafter,  his  soul  passed 
from  earth.  The  change  was  sudden  and  painless,  and  one 
of  his  children  whispered  a  prayer  as  his  spirit  returned  to 
God. 

In  the  anguish  of  heart  and  the  bitterness  of  sorrow  of 
those  to  whom  he  had  been  the  blessing  and  the  joy  of  life, 
the  glorious  promises  of  life  eternal  and  the  comfortable 
assurance  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  ' '  Lo,  I  am  with  you 
alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the  world  !  "  brought  a  ray  of 
light  in  the  darkness  of  the  shadow  of  death.  Mercifully 
upheld  by  the  unseen  but  very  present  Help  in  time  of 
trouble,  they  were  enabled  to  bear  and  do  all  things  needful. 


THE   LAST  YEAR.  207 

Scarcely  changed  in  outward  appearance  by  the  peaceful 
parting  from  this  world,  he  lay  majestic  in  the  dignity  of 
his  noble  presence,  a  smile  of  peace  upon  his  venerable  fea- 
tures, his  silver  hair  like  a  halo  around  his  beautiful  head. 

That  Dr.  ]\Iann  had  passed  away  was  known  to  his  many 
friends  in  Philadelphia  early  the  next  day.  The  mourning 
for  him,  especially  in  the  Church  of  which  he  had  so  long 
been  a  highly  honored  and  beloved  teacher,  was  general. 
Many  were  the  tributes  of  love,  veneration  and  high  esteem 
for  him  and  the  work  he  had  accomplished  sent  in  loving 
and  helpful  sympathy  to  his  afflicted  wife  and  children. 

In  the  far  distant  home  of  his  childhood,  the  hearts  of 
dear  relatives  and  friends  were  bowed  in  sorrow. 

On  Friday,  June  24th,  his  body  was  laid  to  rest  in  West 
Laurel  Hill  Cemetery,  Philadelphia.  At  the  house.  No. 
114  N.  34th  St.,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Ashmead  Schaeffer,  pastor 
of  St.  Stephen's  Church,  West  Phila.,  read  the  service  for 
the  burial  of  the  dead.  Dr.  Chas.  W.  Schaeffer,  Senior  of 
the  Theological  Faculty,  addressed  the  family  in  touching 
words  of  sympathy  and  deep  appreciation  of  the  departed 
one.  Rev.  Hugo  Grahn,  the  oldest  of  his  Geniian  col- 
leagues in  the  city,  closed  with  a  German  prayer.  Zion's 
Church,  whose  pastor  Dr.  Mann  had  been  for  so  many 
years,  and  where  most  appropriately  the  last  honors  would 
have  been  shown  him,  was  unfortunately  undergoing  re- 
pairs, in  preparation  for  the  celebration  of  the  150th  anniver- 
sary of  the  congregation.  As  a  scaffold  had  been  erected  in 
the  auditorium,  the  church  was  not  available  for  the  funeral 
service,  which  therefore  was  held  in  the  Church  of  the 
Holy  Communion,  at  Broad  and  Arch  Sts.,  kindly  offered 
for  the  purpose.  There  was  no  place  in  the  large  building 
unoccupied,  and  many  stood  during  the  entire  service; 
members  from  all  the  Lutheran  Churches  in  Philadelphia 
and  from  the  whole  territory  of  the  Synod  were  present. 

The  casket  containing  the  precious  remains  was  carried 
into  the  church  by  pastors,  who  had  all  been  Dr.  Mann's 


208  MEMOIR   OF  WII.UAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

pupils ;  the  vestry  of  Zion's  Church,  the  Directors  of  the 
Seminary,  a  delegation  from  the  Ministerium  of  New  York, 
at  the  time  in  session  in  New  York  City,  and  about  two 
hundred  clergymen  followed.  After  an  organ  prelude,  the 
congregation  sang  "  Mein  Glaub'  ist  meines  Lebens  Ruh," 
Dr.  Mann' s  favorite  German  choral.  The  Rev.  Fred.  Wischan 
then  offered  prayer  in  the  German  language;  after  which  Rev. 
E.  Niedecker,  Dr.  Mann's  successor  in  Zion's  Church,  read 
the  Scripture  and  Rev.  Dr.  Adolph  Spaeth  delivered  the 
German  address  on  the  text,  John  9:4,  "I  must  work  the 
works  of  Him  that  sent  me,  while  it  is  day :  the  night 
Cometh  when  no  man  can  work."  After  the  aria  from 
Handel's  Messiah,  "I  know  that  my  Redeemer  liveth," 
Rev.  Dr.  J.  A.  Seiss  delivered  the  English  address  on  2 
Sam.  3 :  38,  "Know  ye  not  that  there  is  a  prince  and  a 
great  man  fallen  this  day  in  Israel  ?' '  Rev.  Dr.  H.  E.  Ja- 
cobs then  led  in  prayer  and  the  solemn  service  closed  with 
the  singing  of  the  hymn,  "Abide  with  me,  fast  falls  the 
eventide. ' ' 

That  Dr.  Philip  Schaff  and  Dr.  G.  F.  Krotel,  who  was  also 
expected  to  make  an  English  address,  were  both  prevented, 
the  one  by  distance,  the  other  by  illness,  from  being  present, 
to  look  once  more  upon  earth  upon  the  face  of  their  be- 
loved friend,  was  a  source  of  sincere  regret  and  sorrow. 

In  the  vestments  of  the  church,  with  his  hands  calmly 
folded,  he  lay  in  serene  and  beautiful  dignity,  while  hun- 
dreds who  knew  and  loved  him  well  looked  for  the  last 
time  upon  that  well-known  face  and  fonn.  The  evening 
sun  was  setting  as  the  last  words  of  consecration  were 
spoken  at  his  open  grave.  "  I  am  the  Resurrection  and  the 
Eife  :  he  that  believeth  in  me,  though  he  were  dead,  yet 
shall  he  live  ;  and  whosoever  liveth  and  believeth  in  me 
shall  never  die. ' ' 


CHAPTER  XXII. 

CHARACTERISTICS. 

DR.  mann's  qualities  of  mind  and  soul  were  such,  that 
whatever  station  of  life  he  would  have  been  called  to 
fill,  he  would  have  attained  prominence.  He  was  endowed 
with  unusual  mental  gifts.  He  possessed  a  clear,  sound 
judgment,  a  ready  insight  into  human  nature,  an  un- 
quenchable thirst  after  knowledge,  a  capacious  and  tena- 
cious memory,  popular  and  persuasive  eloquence,  original- 
ity in  thought  and  speech,  and  an  indomitable,  energetic 
will,  to  which  were  added  quick  wit  and  a  genial  humor. 

Trained  in  the  best  classical  schools  and  University  of 
his  native  Wurtemberg,  renowned  for  its  educational  insti- 
tutions, he  had  a  rich  capital  of  knowledge  ;  and  to  this 
he  constantly  added  new  stores.  Study  was  his  delight ; 
even  when  a  boy,  it  had  never  been  drudgery  to  him  ;  and 
throughout  his  life  he  was  an  earnest  student.  With  his 
wonderfully  retentive  memory  he  appropriated  with  mar- 
vellous ease,  and  his  material  was  always  at  command. 
With  unfaltering  exactness,  names,  dates,  events,  incidents 
came  at  his  bidding.  While  theology  was  his  legitimate 
field  of  thought,  study  and  investigation,  he  was  also 
deeply  learned  in  metaphysics  and  philosophy,  history, 
aesthetics,  physics,  philology,  astronomy,  geology  and  kin- 
dred sciences.  His  active  mind  was  always  stretching  out 
its  feelers  into  the  world  around  it,  and  seizing  and  appro- 
priating to  its  own  uses  the  best  that  was  offered. 

Nor  in  the  latter  years  of  his  life  was  there  any  appreci- 
able diminution  of  the  freshness  and  vigor  of  his  memory. 
14  209 


2IO  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Even  in  the  days  of  his  ilhiess,  when  prostrated  in  body,  it 
was  apparently  as  good  as  ever.  Some  weeks  after  the 
fatal  seizure  of  the  28th  October,  his  daughter  sitti'ng  at  his 
bedside,  entertained  him  by  relating  something  she  had 
read  about  Alexander  von  Humboldt's  experiments  with  the 
magnetic  needle.  "  Yes,"  said  her  father,  "  in  the  '  Cos- 
mos '  he  enters  fully  into  the  subject  and  gratefully  acknowl- 
edges the  investigations  of  Fred.  Gauss  and  the  English 
Captain  Sabine."  "  When  did  you  read  the  '  Cosmos?  " 
was  the  next  question,  "I  thought  it  was  years  ago  !  "  "So 
it  was  ;  forty  years  ago,  I  believe,  zvhy  f "  He  was  accus- 
tomed to  have  his  memory  behave  in  that  way  and  expected 
such  faithful  service. 

On  other  matters,  quite  removed  from  literary  or  scien- 
tific subjects,  his  information  was  as  accurate.  He  knew 
how  many  feet  of  timber  a  western  saw-mill  could  cut  in  a 
day,  what  new  investigations  and  applications  of  electricity 
were  being  made,  how  many  bushels  of  wheat  were  raised 
in  Russia,  India,  and  out  West,  and  kindred  matters  mark- 
ing the  world's  practical  progress  as  well  as  the  subtle  dif- 
ferences in  the  systems  of  German  philosophy.  Every- 
thing pertaining  to  the  condition  and  welfare  of  humanity 
was  fraught  with  interest  and  every  phase  of  life  suggestive 
to  him.  On  one  occasion,  his  son  brought  a  friend,  who 
had  spent  a  number  of  years  in  Rio  Janeiro,  to  dine.  The 
conversation  turned  upon  that  city  and  after  a  little  while, 
the  visitor  asked,  "  Dr.  Mann,  when  were  you  in  Brazil  ?  " 
His  host  had  never  been  there,  which  the  stranger  could 
scarcely  credit,  so  full  and  definite  was  the  knowledge  of 
localities,  buildings,  harbor  and  characteristic  features  of 
its  most  famous  city. 

Reliable  as  was  his  memory,  he  constantly  aided  and 
strengthened  it  by  taking  notes  and  making  extracts  from 
books  and  journals.  He  read  "  pen  in  hand. "  Two  books 
of  excerpts  on  a  wide  range  of  subjects,  neatly  written  in  his 
microscopic  handwriting  are  among  his  papers. 


CHARACTERISTICS.  2X1 

But  with  all  his  learning  he  was  neither  pedantic  nor 
scholastic;  never  dry  or  tiresome,  even  in  deep  theological 
or  metaphysical  discussion.  But  alert,  quick,  ready,  his 
individuality  marking  his  modes  of  thought  and  expression. 
His  vigorous  mind  assimilated  the  learning  he  gathered; 
and  in  his  mental  forge,  the  raw  material  was  converted 
into  new,  shining  coin  stamped  with  his  originality.  He 
had  a  way  of  putting  things  that  was  quite  unexpected. 
His  ready  word  often  went  deeply  home  and  bore  good 
fruit. 

Some  years  ago  he  was  surprised  at  being  accosted  in  the 
street  by  a  Roman  Catholic  priest,  who  said,  "  Dr.  Mann, 
I  want  to  thank  you  for  a  word  you  spoke  long  ago,  that 
marked  a  turning  point  in  my  career.  I  had  fallen  into 
the  terrible  habit  of  drink  and  was  rapidly  sinking  lower 
and  lower.  One  morning  I  was  in  a  saloon  ;  you  entered 
and  passed  upstairs  to  see,  as  I  afterwards  learned,  a  dying 
woman.  As  presently  you  went  out  again,  you  looked  at 
me  and  I  involuntarily  arose  and  made  some  excuse  to  you 
for  being  in  that  place,  and  murmured  something  about  being 
thirsty.  Whereupon  you  immediately  answered  :  '  Hier 
ist  keine  Gefahr  so  lange  als  Sie  den  Durst  haben  ;  aber 
wenn  einmal  der  Durst  Sie  hat,  dann  stehts  schlecht !' 
(There  is  no  danger  here  so  long  as  you  have  thirst  ;  but 
when  the  thirst  has  you,  all  is  lost  !)  and  you  went  away. 
But  I  was  so  struck  by  your  word,  I  realized  my  danger  and 
learned  to  control  my  appetite." 

He  always  prepared  himself  thoroughly  for  public  speak- 
ing, but  in  an  emergency  was  at  no  loss  without  prepara- 
tion. On  one  occasion,  a  Rev.  Dr.  Newmann  of  New 
York,  was  to  lecture  in  the  old  Zion  Church  on  "  Emigra- 
tion." The  evening  had  arrived,  the  auditorium  was  well 
filled  and  Dr.  Mann  and  Dr.  Spaeth,  then  his  colleague, 
were  waiting  in  the  sacristy  for  the  lecturer.  But  he  did 
not  come.  At  length,  Dr.  Spaeth  said  :  "  There  is  no  help 
for  it,  you  will  have  to  hold  forth  yourself!"     And  soon 


212  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

after,  Dr.  Mann  ascended  the  platform  and  began:  "My 
friends,  the  new  man  has  not  come,  so  you  will  have  to  be 
satisfied  once  more  with  the  old  Mann!"  His  audience 
appreciated  that  opening,  and  he  held  their  attention  for  an 
hour  and  a  half,  lecturing  on  the  subject  of  the  evening. 

All  his  qualities  of  mind  were  hallowed  by  their  conse- 
cration to  his  Maker  and  their  devotion  to  the  service  of  his 
fellow-man.  Love  was,  after  all,  his  characteristic  quality  ; 
and  it  was  in  the  spirit  of  love  that  he  approached  all  with 
whom  he  came  into  contact.  His  great  heart  seemed  to 
have  room  for  everybody,  and  he  never  failed  to  give  to 
everyone  the  very  best  that  he  could  offer.  This  was  the 
secret  of  that  strong  personal  magnetism  that  drew  the 
hearts  of  others  to  him. 

Little  children  loved  him  ;  it  was  not  unusual  that, 
knowing  him  from  Church  and  Sunday-School,  they  ran 
after  him  in  the  street.  One  day  a  little  girl  said  to  him  : 
"  Dr.  Mann,  wart  'e  'wenig  !''  (wait  a  minute  !)  He  turned 
and  stretched  out  his  hand  and  said,  "What  can  I  do  for 
you,  my  dear  child  ? ' '  And  her  answer  came  at  once, 
"  Nichts,  ich  hab  nur  gewollt  das  du  raich  anguckst!" 
(Nothing,  I  only  wanted  you  to  look  at  me  !) 

There  was  no  limit  to  the  trouble  he  would  take  to  accom- 
modate,— not  only  a  friend,  who  had  claims  and  whom  it  was 
delightful  to  be  able  to  please, — but  any  one  and  every  one 
who  called  upon  him  for  aid  or  advice.  Noting  on  one  occa- 
sion in  his  diary  the  trouble  that  had  befallen  one  of  his 
younger  brethren,  he  closes  :  "It  did  me  much  good  to 
extricate  him  from  his  unhappy  position,  which  I  could  do 
with  a  little  exertion. ' ' 

He  made  duty  an  almost  tyrannical  mistress  to  himself, 
but  he  did  not  realize  how  severe  he  was,  because  his  heart 
was  in  his  work.  In  his  boyhood,  he  laid  down  strict  rules 
for  his  own  conduct,  and  of  himself  he  demanded  a  great 
deal.  There  was  no  pampering  allowed  in  his  own  case  ; 
no  swerving  to  right  or  left.     Inclination  had  no  claims  at 


CHARACTERISTICS.  213 

all.     And  in  the  performance  of  his  work  he  had  an  intense 

satisfaction.  ^   ,     .  _. 

Toward  others,  on  the  contrary,  he  was  most  lenient. 
He  never  expected  of  them  what  he  thonght  bnt  just  mhis 
own  case.  And  he  appreciated  most  highly  ^^^-^\^^-''l'^l 
work  For  instance,  he  thought  it  a  most  unnatural  thmg 
if  any  one  of  his  own  family  was  up  early  in  the  mornmg, 
and  he  was  very  likely  to  say  :  "  My  child,  you  need  more 
sleep  '  You  ought  to  be  in  bed  !"  But  he  was  always  at  his 
own  desk  at  5  o'clock  and  not  infrequently  at  four  m  the 

""  WkMiis  strong,  enthusiastic  nature,  he  had  also  in  earlier 
years  a  high  spirit  and  a  hasty  temper.  But  he  learned  to 
rule  his  spirit  and  the  sunshine  of  his  sweet  and  happy 
humor  irradiated  his  whole  being.  It  shone  out  m  his 
benevolent  features,  and  showed  itself  in  the  kmdly  patience 
in  which  his  heart  went  out  toward  all  men. 

He  h.d  in  a  marked  degree  the  ability  to  concentrate  his 
powers  at  any  moment,  and  he  was  in  consequence  a  won- 
derfully  ready   writer   and   rapid  worker.      The    method 
which   pervaded  all  his  work,  and  resulted  m  an  almost 
pnnctilious  attention  to  detail  in  business  matters,  corres- 
pondence, and  the  like;  the  order  in  which  invariably  his 
books  and  papers  were  kept  was,  so  to  speak,  an  index  ot 
his  mind;   for  order  was  the  law  of  his  nature.     He  was 
never  known  to  have  left  anything  out  of  its  proper  place. 
Without  the  ability  to  work  rapidly  and  the  time  saved  by 
the  observance  of  system  and  order  in  all  things,  it  would 
have  been  altogether  impossible   for  him  to  have  accom- 
plished all  that  he  did. 

Recnilar  habits  and  abstemious  diet,  he  was  fully  con- 
vinced, had  been  largely  instrumental  in  preserving  his 
health,  amid  the  wear  and  tear  of  his  unusual  mental  and 
physical  exertions.  To  deny  himself  any  physical  enjoy- 
ment apparently  cost  him  no  efifort  whatever,  so  perfectly 
was  he  master  of  himself     His  physician  at  one  time  ad- 


214  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

vised  him  not  to  drink  coffee  for  a  while.  He  did  not  taste 
it  after  that  for  fifteen  years,  though  it  had  been  his  favor- 
ite morning  beverage. 

The  energetic  exercise  of  his  mind  and  his  indefatigable 
zeal  kept  him  always  youthful.  Though  his  years  numbered 
more  than  threescore  and  ten,  he  did  not  live  to  grow  old. 
As  long  as  he  lived,  he  was  full  of  life  and  enthusiasm.  He 
was  constantly  growing  and  advancing  with  the  advance  of 
thought  and  the  progress  of  the  world.  lyong  after  he  had 
passed  his  prime,  he  wrote  to  his  friend,  Gustav  Schwab, 
"I  must  protest  when  you  write  you  are  growing  old! 
This  is  not  and  dare  not  be  !  You,  too,  have  something  of 
that  '  youth  that  never  fades  ! '  In  years,  I  am  older  than 
you  and  my  work  taxes  body  and  mind  :  the  years  may 
come,  but  not  old  age  !  Let  us  then  go  forward  to  the 
work  of  coming  days  with  the  calm  of  the  combat-hard- 
ened veteran,  taking  time  to  notice,  while  we  labor,  what 
music  the  world's  progress  is  scoring  for  the  band,  and 
marching  in  the  dress  parade  with  senatorial  gravity  !  We 
shall  arrive  at  '  Quarters'  in  due  season  and  then, — may 
our  rest  be  honor  !' ' 

To  Dr.  Schaff  he  writes  in  the  same  strain  :  ' '  The  first 
instant  did  not  pass  without  reminding  me  that  my  friend 
is  fifty-seven  years  old,  that  I  shall  before  long  be  in  the 
same  predicament,  and  that  the  road  still  before  us  is  get- 
ting '  beautifully  less. '  A  few  years  more,  and  we  shall  be 
considered  superannuated  representatives  of  a  bygone  age  ! 
We  may  feel  ever  so  young,  the  stubborn  fact  is,  that  we 
are  getting  old.  When  we  once  shall  feel  old — there  is  a 
possibility  of  such  misery — then  life  will  be  a  business  that 
does  not  pay  its  expenses.  May  it  be  our  good  lot  never  to 
entertain  this  pessimistic  valuation  of  it  ;  rather  may  we 
always  enjoy  'that  youth  that  never  fades'  !" 

While  he  remained  young  in  spirit,  he  realized  well  his 
advancing  years  and  sometimes  regretted  that  he  would  not 
live  to  see  the  possible  development  of  those  forecasts  of 


CHARACTERISTICS.  215 

progress  and  civilization  that  his  lively  mental  vision  often 
pictured.  The  future  of  mankind,  the  course  of  history, 
the  future  of  God's  kingdom  on  earth  were  questions  and 
problems  of  never  failing  interest  to  him.  "Russia,"  he 
writes,  "certainly  cannot  boast  of  much  civilization  ;  but  I 
am  convinced  that  the  Sclavonic  race  has  a  future  :  it  can 
be  developed,  there  are  potencies  slumbering  in  it."  And 
in  a  letter  to  a  friend,  referring  to  Cuba,  he  said  :  "The 
United  States  has  a  mission  to  fulfill  in  that  part  of  the 
world.  The  fact  is,  the  Antilles  could  form  a  commercial 
empire  of  the  first  magnitude,  like  that  of  the  Phoenicians 
of  old,  or  the  British  Isles  in  our  day.  Cuba  alone  contains 
88,000  square  miles  of  land,  of  which  only  the  tenth  part 
is  cultivated.  The  Antilles  are  the  Italy  of  the  New 
World,  and  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  and  the  Caribbean  Sea,  the 
Mediterranean.  There  are  prospects  for  the  future  between 
North  and  South  America  and  Europe  on  one  side,  and 
Australia,  Japan  and  China  on  the  other.  We  came  sev- 
eral hundreds  of  years  too  soon  into  the  world  !' ' 

He  lived  in  and  for  the  future.  ' '  Ruhig  schaue  ich  vor- 
waerts  auf  ein  Neues.  Das  Alte  ist  mir  und  bleibt  mir  ver- 
gangen,"  he  wrote.  (Steadily  I  strive  forward,  the  past  is 
and  remains  beyond  our  power.)  This  constant  striving  to 
attain,  and  with  it  the  disregard  and  humble  appreciation 
of  anything  that  he  had  accomplished,  continually  stimu- 
lated him  to  fresh  efforts.  It  was  one  source  of  that  deep 
humility  which  marked  him.  He  never  rated  his  own 
work  highly,  and  often  ends  his  searching  self-examinations 
with  the  thought :  "  How  little,  after  all,  is  attained  !  one 
works  much  and  accomplishes  nothing!"  It  was  because 
his  ideals  and  aims  were  so  high,  and  because  he  saw  so 
much  to  do  in  the  world  around  him  that  he  felt  he  had 
done  little  ! 

When  the  editor  of  a  paper  for  which  he  wrote  begged 
that  his  name  or  initials  might  accompany  his  articles,  he 
replied  :    "The  name  is  of  no  consequence,  the  cause  is  the 


2l6  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

thing  of  importance,  not  the  individual !"  He  had  an  in- 
nate dislike  of  publicity,  and  always  kept  himself  in  the 
background  when  he  could.  He  recognized  perfectly  well 
his  own  powers,  but  he  never  thrust  them  forward,  for  he 
recognized  even  more  fully  the  gifts  of  others. 

He  had  an  intensely  sympathetic  nature,  and  never  could 
thoroughly  enjoy  anything  alone;  if  it  were  a  beautiful  land- 
scape, fine  music  or  an  interesting  occasion,  he  needed  some 
one  to  partake  of  his  enjoyment  to  make  it  perfect.  He 
had  a  happy  faculty  of  making  friends  wherever  he  went, 
and  he  nearly  always  found  congenial  companionship  when 
on  a  journey  or  when  absent  from  home,  in  a  strange  city. 
He  drew  out  the  best  qualities  in  those  with  whom  he  came 
into  contact.  But  one  thing  that  runs  through  all  his  cor- 
respondence, and  that  markedly  showed  itself  in  his  dislike 
to  leaving  it  and  his  sometimes  almost  amusing  haste  to 
return  to  it,  was  his  love  of  home.  There,  notwithstanding 
his  manifold  and  practical  interests  in  mankind,  he  had  his 
purest  pleasures. 

He  was  exceedingly  thoughtful  of  others  ;  and  of  those 
who  served  him,  he  was  most  considerate,  sparing  them  all 
possible  annoyance  and  exertion.  One  day,  having  officiated 
at  a  funeral,  he  left  the  house  and  passed,  as  might  often 
happen  on  such  an  occasion,  half  a  dozen  carriage  drivers, 
in  a  little  group  at  the  street -corner.  As  he  passed,  one  of 
them  said  in  an  undertone,  "There's  the  man  that  never 
keeps  us  waiting  !"  and  another  joined  in,  "That's  true  ! 
Three  cheers  for  him  !" 

Though  he  was  so  busy  and  accomplished  so  much,  he 
never  seemed  hurried.  On  the  contrary,  he  appeared  to 
have  time  for  everything.  When  his  friends  came  on  a  visit, 
he  always  had  leisure  to  devote  to  them  and  often  enjoyed, 
as  he  said,  in  that  way,  "an  unexpected  vacation." 

His  manner  was  warm-hearted,  genial,  friendly.  It  was 
his  natural  impulse  to  love  everybody,  and  his  kindliness 
was  the  exponent  of  his  loving   heart.     It  was  this  that 


CHARACTERISTICS.  217 

made  nearly  everybody  love  him,  too.  Many  people,  also, 
who  rarely  saw  him  or  who  knew  him  but  slightly  had  a 
most  affectionate  regard  for  him. 

For  those  who  in  the  course  of  his  life  and  labors  had 
misunderstood  or  misrepresented  him,  he  had  full,  hearty 
forgiveness  ;  and  no  one  was  happier  than  he  to  be  able  to 
give  a  full  meed  of  confidence  and  esteem  to  others.  Un- 
kindness  and  injustice  pained  him  most  deeply,  for  he  was 
very  sensitive  ;  but  he  could  bear  it  patiently  without 
rancor. 

On  the  other  hand,  the  love  and  affectionate  regard  of 
others  made  him  very  happy,  and  he  often  said:  "The 
highest  good  which  this  world  can  offer  is  the  esteem  and 
love  of  worthy  people." 

In  the  many-sidedness  of  his  nature,  many  talents  were 
bestowed  upon  him.  The  world  of  beauty  was  reflected  in 
his  soul  and  he  held  the  golden  keys  that  open  her  sacred 
treasures.  His  native  Suabia,  richest  of  all  German  lands 
in  poetic  and  historic  reminiscences,  and  so  charming  in  its 
lovely  landscapes,  early  awakened  in  him  that  strong  person- 
ality of  thought  and  feeling  that  mark  the  poet's  nature. 
His  prose  was  often  impassioned  imagery,  and  when  touched 
by  some  great  deed,  some  sweet  remembrance  of  the  past, 
or  some  act  of  love,  his  thoughts  found  expression  in  melo- 
dious numbers,  sublime,  tender  and  true.  When  his  imagi- 
nation was  roused,  his  ideas  were  quickly  "bodied  forth" 
in  verse,  and  he  rarely  changed  a  word  of  what  was  written 
on  the  first  inspiration.  This  gift  was,  of  course,  only  a 
luxuriant  decoration  of  his  mental  structure,  and  he  used  it 
now  and  then,  to  afford  himself  and  others  pleasure.  With 
few  exceptions  his  poems  were  written  in  German. 

For  nature's  charms  he  had  the  poet's  eye,  and  it  was  a 
peculiar  delight  to  him  to  be  able  to  sketch  whatever 
pleased  his  fancy.  A  drawing  block  and  pencil  were  always 
in  his  pocket,  and  on  the  steamer's  deck,  in   the  railroad 


2l8  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

car,  as  well  as  from  more  quiet  and  favorable  points  of  view 
he  quickly  brought  to  paper  what  he  saw.  Pen  and  ink 
sketches,  too,  of  remarkable  beauty  he  found  time  to  make, 
and  some  of  them  are  fine  as  the  most  exquisite  engravings. 
In  designing  also  his  imagination  always  had  some  original 
striking  form  to  present,  and  artists  envied  him  the  ease 
with  which  he  produced  new  combinations.  After  excess- ' 
ive  mental  work  it  was  a  rest  to  him  to  draw,  and  in  the  in- 
tervals of  sterner  labors,  he  executed  many  beautiful  pic- 
tures. 

But  the  art  beloved  best  of  all  was  music.  With  Luther  he 
said,  "  Nach  der  heiligen  Theologia,  the  heilige  Musica!" 
Music  dwelt  in  his  soul ;  his  highly  cultivated  taste,  and 
his  fine  capacity  to  enter  into  the  musician's  thought,  to 
enjoy  those  "  ideas  and  emotions  known  and  nameable  only 
to  music,"  made  it  a  real  mental  refreshment  and  stimulus 
to  him. 

As  a  boy  he  mastered  the  intricacies  of  thorough-bass, 
studying  diligently  the  fuges  of  Bach  and  the  simpler 
forms  of  the  German  choral.  He  had  the  construction  of 
harmonies  at  his  finger's  ends  and  could  extemporize  for 
hours.  Perfectly  independent  of  notes,  he  was  usually  at 
the  piano  in  the  twilight,  calling  forth  melodies,  solemn, 
sad  or  brilliant  as  his  fancy  prompted  and  carrying  out  his 
theme  with  artistic  elaboration  and  originality. 

Haendel  and  Beethoven  were  his  greatest  masters,  and  in 
the  majesty  and  the  melodies  of  the  "  Messiah  "  he  found 
endless  delight.  Some  melody  from  it  nearly  always  crept 
into  his  extempore  playing,  and  when  the  "  Halleluiah 
Chorus  "  was  sung,  he  used  to  say,  he  could  almost  hear  the 
angels  swelling  the  rapturous  waves  of  harmony.  The 
majestic  forms  of  Beethoven  with  their  sublime  archi- 
tectural development,  he  never  enjoyed  more  than  when  his 
musical  daughter  interpreted  them  for  him ;  and  how  often 
after  her  playing,  he  said:  "  Das  war  ein  wahrer  Genuss!  " 
With  wonderful  depth  and  richness  of  expression  he  played 


CHARACTERISTICS.  219 

the  German  chorals.  How  beautiful  the  majesty  of  "  Ein 
feste  Burg,"  the  sweetness  of  "  Mein  Glaub  ist  meines 
Leben's  Ruh,"  and  the  grandeur  of  "Wachet  auf  ruft  uns 
die  Stimme  ! "  (which  he  called  the  queen  of  all  the  chorals), 
fell  upon  the  ear  in  all  the  unity  and  dignity  of  their  ex- 
quisite melodic  forms,  when  his  gentle  yet  vigorous  fingers 
handled  the  keys  with  their  delicate  touch! 

In  the  high  calling  which  he  filled,  he  found  that  inner 
peace  that  is  the  surety  of  a  happy  life.  With  the  devotion 
borne  of  deep  love  of  the  work,  he  labored  as  pastor  and 
professor,  and  often  said,  "no  other  calling  would  have 
given  me  the  satisfaction  which  I  have  had  as  preacher  and 
teacher." 

"After  all,"  he  writes,  "there  is  nothing  that  gives 
the  inner  man  more  noble,  holy  joy  than  to  call  men  out  of 
darkness  to  light,  to  preach  to  them  everlasting  salvation, 
and  to  make  them  feel  that  the  Word  and  the  Spirit  are 
mighty  powers  over  men's  souls."  And  again:  "It  is  a 
most  glorious  privilege  to  testify  of  the  unspeakable  love  of 
God,  to  encourage  men  to  lay  hold  of  Christ  by  fiiith,  and 
to  walk  in  the  way  of  life.  There,  all  that  is  temporal, 
worldly,  vain,  perishable,  and  deceptive  and  charming  to 
the  senses  vanishes ;  there  the  power  of  the  true  and  the 
eternal  fills  the  soul;  there  the  riches  of  God's  Word  are 
revealed  and  we  drink  of  the  waters  springing  up  into  ever- 
lasting life ! ' ' 

In  the  world,  but  not  of  the  world  he  lived,  an  inspiration 
and  a  priceless  blessing  by  the  grace  of  God  to  those  bound 
to  him  by  the  tenderest  ties  ;  unswerving  in  faith  and  in 
duty,  he  was  by  that  same  grace  a  blessing  and  an  honor 
to  the  church  ;  striving  with  indefatigable  zeal  to  make  evil 
less  in  the  world  and  to  increase  good,  he  was  a  blessing  to 
his  generation.  His  own  words  are  the  keynote  to  his  life: 
"There  is  that  great  wonderful  problem.  Eternity,  com- 
pared with  which  all  the  wonders  of  this  world  and  its  his- 
tory sink  into  insignificance.     Who  does  not  long  to  know 


220  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

what  joys  it  will  reveal  ?  The  spirit  recognizes  that  it 
gravitates  toward  another  and  a  better  world  !  With  God 
forward  to  God  !  That  remains  the  aim  and  eternal  ob- 
ject !" 

"By  faith  he  being  dead  yet  speaketh." 


'^vihnUs  iind  %itn^vs  ivntn  S^rlends. 


"^tlbuits. 


Three  weeks  before  Dr.  Mann  was  called  from  his  labors  on  earth, 
the  Faculty  of  the  Lutheran  Theological  Seminary  at  Mt.  Airy, 
Philadelphia,  through  their  Senior,  the  Rev.  Dr.  C.  W.  Schaeffer, 
presented  him  on  his  73d  birthday  with  the  following,  in  commem- 
oration of  the  semi-centennial  of  his  entrance  into  the  ministry. 

May  28,  1892. 
Rev.  Prof.  Dr.  W.  J,  Mann, 

Prof,  of  Hebrew,  Exegesis,  Ethics,  etc.,  in  the  Ev.  Lutheran 
Theological  Seminary  at  Mt.  Airy,  Philadelphia. 

Rev.  and  dear  Doctor  : — As  it  has  pleased  Him  in  whose  hands 
our  lives  are  so  to  lengthen  out  your  days,  and  to  endow  you  so 
bountifully  in  body,  soul  and  spirit,  that  you  have  been  enabled,  for 
a  period  of  fifty  successive  3'ears,  to  render  a  service  in  the  interests 
of  the  Gospel  remarkable  for  its  diversity,  impressive  for  its  earnest- 
ness, and  all  strongly  characterized  b}'  singleness  of  aim,  the  glory 
of  God ;  in  addition  to  the  felicitations  and  best  wishes  with  which 
they  would  honor  the  anniversary  of  your  birth,  your  Colleagues  of 
the  Faculty  offer  you  their  sincere  congratulations  upon  the  occa- 
sion of  your  Jubilee. 

Whilst  they  fondly  cherish  the  memory  of  their  personal  and  pro- 
fessional intercourse  with  j'ou,  as  members  of  the  Theological  Fac- 
ulty, for  so  many  years,  they  will  ever  continue  to  hold  you  very 
high  in  their  regards,  for  the  minent  and  varied  services  that  have 
so  clearly  entitled  you  to  the  gratitude  of  the  Church  and  the  liter- 
ary world. 

Your  faithfulness  and  devotion  as  a  pastor  in  the  cure  of  souls  ; 
your  earnestness  and  unction  in  the  pulpit  as  a  bearer  of  Glad  Tid- 
ings; your  zeal  in  proclaiming  the  "  Heilsbotschaft ''  far  beyond  the 
reach  of  the  living  voice  ;  your  sympathy  with  the  times,  your  ap- 
preciation of  their  wants,  so  clearly  seen  in  your  symbolical,  bibli- 
cal and  biographical  works  ;  your  keenness  of  perception,  5'our 
soundness  of  judgment,  your  untiring  industy,  all  so  well  sustained 
throughout  your  historic  labors,  and  supplemented  with  the  graces 

223 


224  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN, 

of  a  genial  fraternal  spirit,  all  combine  in  the  constitution  of  a  char- 
acter which  we  shall  ever  regard  it  as  an  honor  to  have  familiarly 
known. 

With  our  congratulations  we  assure  you  of  our  best  wishes,  and 
our  prayers,  that,  by  the  favor  of  Heaven  your  strength  and  useful- 
ness may  be  renewed  and  continued  yet,  for  years  to  come. 

C.  W.  ScHAEFFER,  Chairman, 

A.  Spaeth, 

H.  E.  Jacobs,  Secretary, 

Jacob  Fry. 

The  day  before  Dr.  Mann  passed  from  earth,  the  following  resolu- 
tions of  the  Alumni  of  the  Theological  Seminary  were  received. 

Philadelphia,  Pa. 
To  THE  Rev.  Prop.  Wm.  J.  Mann,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

Highly  honored  and  dear  Doctor  : — In  the  name  of  the 
Alumni  Association  of  the  Evangelical  Lutheran  Theological  Sem- 
inary at  Philadelphia,  the  undersigned  beg  to  present  to  you  the 
following  resolutions  : 

I.  The  Alumni  Association,  whose  members  all  sat  at  your  feet, 
desire  to  express  their  deep  sense  of  gratitude  to  the  Great  Head  of 
the  Church  that  He  not  only  called  you  fifty  years  ago  to  labor  in 
His  vineyard,  but  that  He  endowed  you  with  extraordinary  gifts  for 
His  ministry,  and  made  you  a  blessing  to  uncounted  souls  as  well 
as  to  a  large  number  of  pastors. 

II.  The  members  of  the  Alumni  Association  therefore  lament  the 
more  deeply  that  3'ou,  dear  and  highly  esteemed  Professor,  have 
been  compelled  because  of  your  weakened  physical  condition,  to  re- 
sign the  work,  which  with  great  energy,  unusual  capacities,  and 
unflagging  devotion,  you  have  carried  on  for  the  past  twentj'-seven 
years. 

III.  It  is  the  devout  prayer  of  your  former  pupils  that  the  Lord  God 
may  mercifully  preserve  your  mental  powers  for  many  years  to  come, 
that  you  may  continue  a  blessing  to  the  Church  and  that  you  may  be 
enabled  to  complete  the  difficult  work  (the  new  edition  of  the  "Halle 
Reports,)  for  which  you  are  peculiarl}^  fitted  and  with  which  you 
were  entrusted  by  your  brethren  in  the  Ministerium  of  Pa. 

With  highest  esteem 

and  sincere  love, 

Theo.  L.  Seip, 
S.  A.  Repass, 

J.  NiCUM, 

Phila.,  June  7,  1892.  Committee. 


TRIBUTES.  225 

The  following  are  some  of  the  tributes  received  by  Dr.  Mann's 
family  after  his  decease  : 

Resolutions  of  the  Vestry  of  St.  MichaeV s  and 
Zion's  Congregation. 

"  Die  Lehrer  werden  mit  viel  Segen  geschmueckt."     Ps.  24,  7. 

Da  es  deni  allmaechtigen  Herrn  ueber  Leben  und  Tod  gefallen  hat, 

William  Julius  Mann,  D.D.,  LL.D., 

Pastor  Emeritus  der  deutsch.  evang.  Luth.  St.  Michaelis  u.  Zions 
Gemeinde  in  Phila.,  Pa.,  aus  der  Zeit  in  die  Ewigkeit  abzurufen, 
und  in  Anbetracht,  das  der  Verewigte  34  Jahre  hindurch  an  be- 
sagter  Gemeinde  als  Lehrer  und  Seelsorger  in  grossem  Segen 
gewirkt  hat,  so  sei  hiemit 

Beschlossen,  dass  wir  in  Demuth  unsbeugen  unter  die  Hand  Gottes 
und  als  Gemeinde  das  Abscheiden  des  geliebten  Hirten  innig  be- 
trauem. 

Beschlossett,  das  wir  dem  Herrn  der  Kirche  von  Herzen  Dank 
sagen  fuer  seine  Gnade,  mit  welcher  er  den  Verewigten  so  lange 
Zeit  unserer  lieben  Gemeinde  zura  Segen  gesetzt  hat. 

Beschlossen,  dass  uns  die  grosse  Weisheit,  die  unermuedliche 
Treue,  die  ungewoehnliche  geistige  Begabung,  so  wie  die  vaeter- 
liche  Fuersorge  mit  welcher  der  Verewigte  in  guten  and  boesen 
Tagen  seines  Hirtenamtes  an  unserer  Gemeinde  gewartet,  unver- 
gesslich  bleiben  soil. 

Beschlossen,  dass  wir  der  so  schwer  betroflfenen  Familie  unser 
tiefes  Beileid  bezeugen  und  in  dieser  Truebsal  des  gnaedigen 
Gottes  reichen  Trost  erbitten. 

"Die  Lehrer  werden  leuchten  wie  des Himmelsglanz."    Dan.  12,3. 

John  Emanuel  Neidecker,  Pastor. 
M.  Langenstein, 
J.  Knapper, 

Committee. 

Phila.,  June  26,  1892. 

Resolutions  of  the  Second  District  Conference  of  the 
Ministeriuni  of  Pa. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  Second  District  Conference  held  at 

Bangor,  Pa.,  Oct.  4th,  1892,  the  following  resolutions  were  adopted  : 

Whereas,  In  the  providence  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  the  Luth- 

15 


226  MKMOIR   OF  WII.LIAM  JULIUS    MANN. 

eran  Church,  and  especially  the  Ev.  Luth.  Ministerium  of  Pa.,  of 
which  this  Conference  is  a  part,  has  been  bereaved  by  death  of 
one  of  its  most  honored,  best  beloved,  most  learned  and  eloquent 
members,  the  Rev.  Wm.  Julius  Mann,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  and 

Whereas,  It  is  but  fitting  and  proper  for  this  body  to  express  its 
sorrow  and  its  respect  for  the  illustrious  departed, 

Resolved,  That  we  hereby  put  upon  record  the  sincere  sorrow  of 
this  Conference  at  this  severance  of  the  ties  that  bound  its  members 
to  one  who  was  the  teacher  of  some,  the  personal  friend  and 
acquaintance  of  many,  and  the  admiration  of  all. 

Resolved,  That  we  do  hereby  affirm  our  conviction  of  the  great 
service  rendered  to  the  Church  by  our  deceased  brother  ;  as  its  his- 
torian, as  the  defender  of  its  faith,  as  professor  in  its  Theological 
Seminary,  as  pastor  for  many  years  of  one  of  its  most  important 
congregations. 

Resolved,  That  we  admonish  ourselves  by  his  example  to  greater 
fidelity  in  our  calling,  more  zealous  consecration  to  our  work  ;  and 
likewise  encourage  ourselves  by  his  peaceful  departure  to  hold  fast 
our  faith  and  rejoice  in  the  sure  and  certain  hope  vouchsafed  to 
those  whose  lives  are  hid  in  Christ. 

Resolved,  That  these  resolutions  be  spread  upon  our  minutes  and 
published  as  part  of  our  proceedings  ;  and  that  a  copy  of  the  same 
be  sent  by  the  officers  of  this  Conference  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

M.  H.  Richards, 
J.  D.  Roth, 
A.  F.  Erdman, 

Committee. 


Resolutions  of  the  Fifth  District  Conference  of  the  Ministerium 

of  Pen  n  sylva  n  ia . 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Fifth  Conference  in  EHzabethville,  Pa.,  held 
on  Oct.  lo,  1892,  the  following  was  adopted  : 

Whereas,  It  has  pleased  the  great  Head  of  the  Church  to  remove 
our  beloved  and  esteemed  brother.  Rev.  Prof.  Wm.  J.  Mann,  D.D., 
LL.D.,  from  the  church  militant  to  the  church  triumphant,  there- 
fore be  it 

Resolved,  That  in  the  death  of  the  Rev.  Dr.  Mann,  we  lose  a  man 
of  true  and  noble  purpose,  of  fine  judgment,  of  great  faithfulness 
in  every  matter  of  trust  and  an  ardent  lover  of  the  Lutheran  Church. 

Resolved,  That  we,  some  of  whom  have  sat  at  the  feet  of  this 
erudite  instructor,  whilst  others  among  us  received  ordination  at  his 


TRIBUTES.  227 

hands,  cherish  in  memory  his  good  counsels,  his  faithful  teaching, 
his  crreat  zeal  and  arduous  labors  for  the  cause  of  Christ. 

J^l'so/zrti  That  our  profoundest  sympathy  is  herewith  extended 
to  the  berekved  family,  and  that  we  commend  them  to  the  tender 
mercies  of  Him,  who  ovemileth  all  things  for  the  true  welfare  of 

them  that  love  Him.  .      .        r 

Resolved  That  these  resolutions  be  recorded  in  the  minutes  ol 
this  Conference,  and  a  copy  be  sent  to  the  family  of  the  departed. 

O.  E.  Pflueger, 
Secre/ary. 

Resohdions  of  the  Ministerium  of  the  State  of  New  York. 

IndersiebentenSitzungder  98  Synode  des  Ev.  Luth.  Minister- 
iums  vom  Staate  New  York  und  angrenzender  Staaten  und  Laender, 
am  27  Juni  1892,  wurden  folgende  Beileidsbeschluesse  angenommen  : 

Beschlossen,  dass  dieses  Ministerium  durch  das  so  uner^vartet 
schnelle  Abscheiden  des  von  ihm  so  hochgeschaetzten  Herrn  Pro- 
fessor \Vm.  Julius  Mann,  D.D.,LL.D.,  in  grosse  Trauer  versetzt 
worden  ist,  und  darin  einen  herben  Verlust  fuer  die  gesammte  ev. 
luth   Kirche  dieses  Landes  erkennt. 

Beschlosse?i,  dass  es  dessen  Heimgang  um  so  tiefer  betrauert, 
zumal  ihn  der  Herr  nicht  nut  mit  eminenten  Gaben  ausgeruestet, 
sondem  denselben  auch  zu  einen  treuen  Zeugen  fuer  die  Schnft- 
gemaessheit  des  Bekenntnisses  unserer  teuren  ev.  luth.  Kirche 
gesetzt  hatte,  und  zwar  zu  einer  Zeit,  als  dasselbe  in  unserem  Lande 
aul's  heftigste  angefochten  wurde. 

Beschlossen,  dass  wir  dem  Herrn  danken  fuer  die  so  fruchtbare 
schriftstellerische  Thaetigkeit  des  Heimgegangenen,  sonderhch  auf 
historischem  Gebiet,  sowie  fuer  das  Grosse,  welches  es  dem  Verewig- 
ten  durch  seine  langjaehrige  Verbindung  mit  unserem  theologischen 
Seminar  in  der  Ausbildung  so  vieler  Pastoren  unserer  Kirche  zu 
leisten  vergoennt  war.  von    denen    nicht  wenige  an   Gememden 

unseres  Ministeriums  stehen. 

D.  W.  Peterson, 
Secretaer. 

Resolutions  of  Condolence  of  the  Susquehanna  Synod. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  Susquehanna  Synod,  held  at  Northumberland, 
Pa    June  21-26,  1892,  the  Synod  hearing  of  the  death  of  Dr.  Mann, 
and  in  recognition  of  his  faithful  and  great  services  to  the  Church, 
unanimously  adopted  the  following : 


228  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Whereas,  The  Rev.  William  J.  Mann,  D.  D.,  LL.D.,  professor  at 
the  Lutheran  Seminary  at  Mt.  Airy,  Philadelphia,  a  distinguished 
author,  theologian  and  pastor,  has  been  called  to  his  rest  and  re- 
ward in  the  church  triumphant ;  therefore,  be  it 

Resolved,  That  this  Synod  deems  it  right  and  proper  to  give  ex- 
pression to  its  sense  of  high  appreciation  of  the  valuable  and  long- 
continued  services  of  his  life,  crowned  with  man}'^  years  by  the 
mercy  of  the  Most  High,  and  hereby  gives  utterance  to  its  sense  of 
the  great  loss  sustained  by  the  Church,  of  which  he  was  so  long  a 
prominent  part  ;  and  that  his  devotion  and  faithfulness  to  our 
beloved  Zion,  the  mother  of  us  all,  be  remembered  as  an  inspira- 
tion, urging  our  fuller  consecration,  and  greater  zeal  and  earnest- 
ness for  the  Master's  work. 

Resolved,  That  this  body  hereby  expresses  its  sympathy  and  con- 
dolence with  the  bereaved  family  of  the  departed. 

Resolved,  That  a  copy  of  these  resolutions  be  forwarded  to  the 
family  and  be  published  in  the  church  papers. 


Minute  of  the  Decease  of  the  Rev.  Prof.  William 
fulius  Ma7i7i,  DD.,  LL.D. 

Adopted  by  "The  English  Evangelical  Lutheran  Synod  of  the 
Northwest,"  in  convention  assembled  in  Duluth,  Minn.,  June 
25,  1892: 

The  sad  news  reaches  us  that  another  of  the  original  faculty  of 
the  Philadelphia  Theological  Seminary  has  passed  to  his  reward. 
The  noble  heart  of  our  esteehied  professor  and  friend.  Dr.  William 
J.  Mann,  is  stilled.  He  who  doeth  all  things  well  has  called  him 
from  his  earthlj^  labors  to  his  heavenly  rest. 

Every  clerical  member  of  the  Synod  of  the  Northwest  sat  at  his 
feet.  It  is,  therefore,  befitting  that  we  as  a  Synod  express  our  deep 
sorrow  at  the  heavy  loss  which  we,  together  with  the  whole  Church, 
have  sustained  in  the  death  of  so  great  a  scholar,  so  thorough  and 
able  a  professor,  and  so  earnest  and  zealous  a  Christian  gentleman. 

We  likewise  give  utterance  to  our  gratitude  to  Almight}^  God  for 
the  gift  to  the  Church  and  the  world  of  this  noble  and  preeminently 
useful  life,  and  for  the  great  privilege  of  learning  wisdom  and  catch- 
ing inspiration  from  his  lips. 

Though  he  rests  from  his  labors,  yet  his  works  do  follow  him. 

W.  K.  Frick, 
Secretary. 


TRIBUTES.  229 

Minute  of  the  Lutheran  Pastoral  Association  of  Philadelphia, 
adopted  at  its  tneeting,   October  ly,  i8g2. 

This  Association  desires  to  place  on  record  its  sense  of  the  great 
loss,  which,  in  common  with  our  entire  Church,  it  has  sustained  by 
the  death,  on  June  20,  1892,  of  the  Rev.  William  Julius  Mann, 
D.  D.,  LL.  D.,  who  was  one  of  its  most  deeply-interested  members. 
The  breadth  and  variety  of  his  learning,  the  generosity'  and  warmth 
of  his  feelings,  the  sincerity  and  candor  of  his  conversation,  the 
brilliancy  and  readiness  of  his  eloquence,  the  fruits  of  his  extensive 
reading  and  historic  research,  his  quick  perception,  his  minute  and 
thorough  acquaintance  with  all  the  details  of  the  pastoral  office,  his 
long  service  as  a  professor,  his  active  participation  in  all  important 
church  movements  among  us  for  nearly  half  a  century,  made  this 
Association  for  years  almost  a  body  of  attentive  scholars  that 
gathered  from  time  to  time  to  receive  from  him  most  valued  instruc- 
tion and  advice. 

His  attendance  at  our  meetings  at  a  long  distance  from  his  home 
during  the  last  weeks  of  his  illness,  with  his  mental  faculties  unim- 
paired and  his  interest  in  our  work  as  ardent  as  though  he  had  many 
years  of  service  in  the  Church  and  Seminary  before  him,  will  be 
ever  held  in  grateful  remembrance. 

Present  with  the  Lord,  he  now  sees  what  we  believe,  and  compre- 
hends the  mysteries  that  so  often  formed  the  subject  of  discussion 
at  our  meetings,  and  participates  in  the  bliss  of  the  saints  on  High. 

We  desire  to  present  to  his  family  the  assurances  of  our  sympathy 
in  their  bereavement,  and  record,  for  the  information  and  encour- 
agement of  our  successors,  this  humble  tribute  to  his  noble  life  and 
extraordinary  abilities,  consecrated  by  their  devotion  to  the  sersdce 
of  God. 

J.  F.  C.  Fluck, 

Secretary. 

Resobitions  of  the  Trustees  of  the  German  Hospital 
and  Mary  f.  Drexel  Home. 

Nachdem  es  dem  Allmaechtigen  in  seinem  unerforschlichen  Rath- 
schluss  gefallen  hat,  aus  diesem  irdischen  Leben  in  sein  ewiges 
himmlisches  Reich  zu  berufen,  den  Ehrwuerdigen  Herrn  Dr.  Wm. 
J.  Mann,  einen  ausgezeichneten  Theologen,  einen  Gelehrten  von 
seltenem  Verdienst  und  einen  christlichen  Ehrenmann,  dcssen 
Character  mit  den  liebenswuerdigsten  und  zugleich  solide-sten  und 
zuverlaessigsten  Eigenschaften  geschmueckt  war ;  da  es  ferner  eine 


230  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Thatsache  ist,  das  die  Mitglieder  der  beiden  Verwaltung-sraethe 
des  Mary  J.  Drexel  Heim  uiid  Diakonissen  Mutterhauses  sowie  des 
Deutschen  Hospitals  in  derti  Verstorbenen  einen  hochgeschaetzten 
Freund  und  Kollegen  verloren  haben,  welcher  stets  bereit  war  seine 
ueberlegene  Intelligenz  und  seine  persoenliclie  cooperation  fuer  die 
Verbesserung  und  gute  Verwaltung  der  uns  anvertrauten  Institu- 
tionen  einzusetzen,  so  bestaetigen  wir  hiermit  folgende  in  einer  heute 
berufenen  Trauer-Versammlung  einmuethig  gefassten  Beileids- 
Beschluesse : 

I.,  dass  wir  den  Tod  eines  so  werthen  Freundes  und  Kollegen  tief 
betrauern  und  sein  Andenken  damit  ebren,  dass  diese  Bescbluesse 
in  das  Protokoll  beider  Anstalten  aufgenommen  werden  ; 

II.,  dass  wir  hiermit  der  Gemahlin  und  Familie  des  Geschiedenen 
unsere  tiefgefuehlte  Sympathie  und  aufrichtiges  Beileid  aussprechen 
und  den  Allmaeclitigen  anrufen,  dass  er  sie  in  dieser  harten  Pruef- 
ung  troesten  moege  ; 

III.,  dass  eine  Copie  dieser  Beileidsbeschluesse  au  Frau  Wm.  J. 
Mann  ueberreicht  werde. 

Im  Auftrag  der  Venvaltungsraethe  des 
Mary  J.  Drexel  Heim  und  Diakonissen  Mutterhauses 
und  des  Deutschen  Hospitals. 

Phila.,  am  23  Juni,  1892. 

John  D.  Lankenau, 

Preside7it. 


Resolutions  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Orphans'  Ho7ne  and 

Asylum  for  the  Aged  of  the  Lutheran  Church 

at  Ger?na7ito'wn ,  Pa. 

It  is  with  feelings  of  profound  sorrow  we  contemplate  the  mourn- 
ful fact  that  death  has  taken  from  among  us  so  earnest  a  co-laborer 
as  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wm.  J.  Mann.  We  realize  that  God  has  laid  on  us 
a  heavy  loss ;  the  loss  of  a  true  friend  and  loving  brother,  a  wise 
counsellor  and  a  ready  helper.  He  was  in  truth  a  loyal  friend  to  the 
helpless  orphan  and  to  the  aged  in  their  loneliness  and  infirmity. 
For  both  his  tender  heart  always  beat  in  fatherly  affection  and  fra- 
ternal sympathy,  whilst  with  tongue  and  pen  he  ever  stood  ready  to 
plead  their  cause  and  advance  their  interests.  His  work  in  our 
Board  has  always  been  characteristically  earnest,  energetic,  prompt 
and  decisive,  as  his  counsel  has  ever  been  eminently  wise,  careful, 
and  far-seeing.     Be  it  therefore 

Resolved,  That  whilst  we  humbly  bow  to  the  inscrutable  wisdom 
of  God,  who  has  called  him  from  a  life  of  unusual  activity,  great 


TRIBUTES.  231 

influence,  and  constant  service  to  the  enjoyment  of  rest  and  peace 
in  the  mansions  of  the  just ;  and  whilst  we  are  constrained  to  regret 
the  absence.of  his  familiar  form,  genial  counsel  and  whole-hearted 
interest  at  our  meetings,  we  desire  to  give  expression  to  our  gratitude 
to  our  Heavenly  Father  for  the  many  years  of  faithful  labor,  in  which 
Dr.  Mann's  gifts  were  devoted  to  the  work  of  this  charity. 

Resolved,  That  this  minute  be  entered  upon  the  record  of  this 
Board  ;  that  it  be  published  in  the  church  papers  ;  and  that  a  copy 
be  sent  to  Mrs.  W.J.  Mann  with  assurances  of  our  sincere  sympath3\ 

F.  WiSCHAN, 
J.  NiEDECKER, 
C.  J.  HiRZEL, 

Committee. 


l:ett^t$* 


Extracts  from  a  few  of  the  many  letters  of  condolence,  full  of 
spontaneous  and  helpful  sympathy,  that  were  received,  are  given 
below. 

MoHONK  Lake,  Ui^ter  Co.,  New  York, 

June  23,  1892. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Mann: — I  just  received  the  stunning  news  of  the 
sudden  death  of  your  good  husband,  my  dear  life-long  friend!  I  can- 
not find  words  to  express  my  grief  at  his  loss  and  of  my  sympathy 
with  you  and  your  children. 

I  at  once  inquired  of  the  possibility  of  reaching  Philadelphia  in 
time  for  the  funeral  to-morrow;  but  I  find  tlrere  is  no  possibility  of 
it!  This  is  to  me  a  very  sad  disappointment!  If  you  had  only  sent 
me  a  telegram  yesterday  or  early  this  morning!  But  you  thought  I 
was  still  at  New  York,  which  I  left  a  week  ago,  on  the  same  day  on 
which  you  started  for  Boston  ! 

And  now  there  is  nothing  left  for  me  but  to  attend  the  funeral  in 
spirit  and  to  pray  that  the  good  Lord,  the  Father  of  widows  and 
orphans,  may  sustain  and  comfort  you  with  his  comfort.  Oh,  how 
I  shall  miss  him  in  the  remaining  days  of  my  pilgrimage!  He  is 
the  oldest  friend  I  had  on  this  Continent.  He  and  Schwab,  both 
younger  than  myself,  and  yet  I  am  left  behind  to  mourn  their  loss  ! 
I  can  say  no  more. 

God  bless  you  all  and  grant  unto  us,  in  his  own  good  time,  a 
happy  reunion  in  heaven  forever! 

Yours  most  truly, 

Philip  Schaff. 


Germantown,  Phila.,  June  28,  1892. 
My  Dear  Mrs.  Mann: — Your  kind  note  of  the  25th  has  been  re- 
ceived.    Although  I  passed  through  the  sad  scenes  of  the  24th,  yet 
I  cannot  realize  that  your  excellent  husband  has  gone,  to  return  to 
232 


LETTERS.  233 

us  no  more.  His  genial  spirit,  his  pure  heart,  his  eminent  learning, 
his  varied  accomplishments,  his  sound  judgment  and  his  readiness 
for  every  good  work  made  his  presence  a  benediction;  and,  I  may 
sa}'  of  the  faculty  of  the  Seminary,  that  we  shall  long  bewail  and 
mourn  our  loss.     Yet, 

"Wir  sind  ja  nicht  geschieden 
Von  unsern  Lieben  dort; 
Nur  leben  wir  hienieden, 
Und  sie  am  bessern  Ort." 

With  fervent  prayer  that  Divine  Grace  may  be  the  abiding  comfort 
of  yourself  and  your  dear  children,  I  remain, 

With  highest  regards,  yours  sincerely, 

C.  W.  SCHAEFFER. 


Nkw  York,  June  21,  1892. 

^Iy  Dear  Miss  Emma: — Yours  of  yesterday  was  a  shock  indeed, 
for  I  had  been  indulging  the  hope  that  your  dear  father  was  reviv- 
ing in  the  cool  air  of  Pigeon  Cove,  and  that  I  would  soon  get  a  reply 
to  the  letter  which  I  had  sent  thither,  immediatelj^  after  his  last  to 
me.  But  alas,  it  is  all  over,  and  I  write  to  you  with  a  heart  filled 
with  sorrow,  as  I  think  of  your  mother,  and  you,  your  sisters  and 
brother,  and  all  of  us!  Although  his  condition  has  been  so  critical 
and  I  saw  how  he  had  lost  strength,  I  hoped  that  his  strong  constitu- 
tion and  his  active  spirit,  might,  with  God's  help,  enable  him  to  go  on 
for  a  good  while  to  come.  But  God  has  ordered  otherwise,  and  we 
must  submit,  remembering  how  many  extraordinary  gifts  of  body, 
and  mind  and  spirit  he  gave  him,  and  how  long  a  life  and  how  wide 
a  sphere  in  which  to  use  them  for  the  good  of  his  fellows  and  for  the 
glorj'  of  God. 

While  his  family  has  sustained  an  overwhelming  loss,  we  all — the 
whole  church  with  which  he  was  so  long  connected — rise  up  and 
proclaim  in  saddest  words,  what  a  loss  we  have  sustained!  And 
among  his  friends,  surely  I,  who  have  been  on  such  confidential 
terms  with  him  for  years,  have  the  greatest  reason   to  lament  his 

departure May  God  comfort  and  sustain  3'our  stricken 

mother  and  5'ou  and  all ! 

Yours  truly, 

G.  F.  Krotel. 


234  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Lutheran  Theological  Seminary,  Mt.  Airy,  Phila., 

June  21,  1892. 

My  Dear  Mrs.  Mann: — Please  accept  my  assurance  of  deepest 
sympathy  with  you  and  your  family  in  the  severe  bereavement  you 
have  met.  In  the  death  of  Dr.  Mann,  I  feel  that  I  have  lost  one  of 
my  very  best  friends.  Nine  years  ago,  when  I  entered  the  Faculty, 
my  acquaintance  with  him  was  but  slight.  But  with  the  greatest 
warmth  and  cordiality  he  admitted  me  to  his  full  confidence;  and  I 
can  never  forget  his  many  acts  of  kindness,  down  to  the  last  note  I 
received  from  him  just  before  the  meeting  of  Synod.  While,  until 
recently,  his  youngest  colleague,  I  was  in  fact  all  the  time  his 
pupil,  and  owe  to  his  suggestions  and  advice  as  much  as  though  it 
had  been  my  privilege  to  have  been  under  his  instruction  in  the 
lecture  room. 

His  life  was  crowded  with  good  works.  The  amount  which  he 
accomplished  in  the  man)'  spheres  in  which  he  was  active  was  truly 

wonderful To  him  the  change  is  a  happy  rest.     I  am 

satisfied  that  he  would  not  return  to  us  if  he  could.  But  to  us  all, 
and  to  you  and  your  children  most  of  all,  the  loss  is  irreparable. 

That  the  blessed  consolation  he  brought,  by  his  ministrations,  to 
so  many  stricken  households  may  be  abundantly  yours  is  my  sin- 
cere prayer.  Mrs.  Jacobs  is  also  deeply  moved  by  the  affliction,  and 
sends  her  assurances  of  sympathy. 

Sincerely  yours, 

Henry  E.  Jacobs. 

From  Prof.  Oswald  Seidensticker. 

Phila.,  June  22,  1892. 

' '  Through  forty  years  Dr.  Mann  has  been  to  me  an 

ever  kind  and  revered  friend.  Not  a  speck  tarnishes  the  memory 
of  so  long  a  friendship.  And  how  many  human  beings,  with  whom 
he  associated,  must,  like  myself,  bear  witness  to  the  sweet  power  of 
his  great  and  good  soul. 

"  May  God  in  his  goodness  give  yo\x  and  your  family  strength  to 
bear  the  irreparable  loss  that  you  have  sustained  !  " 

From  Rev.  Dr.  Charles  S.  Albert. 

Baltimore,  Md.,  July  11,  1892. 

"  In  those  delightful  days  we  spent  together  in  Italy, 

I  learned  to  love  him,  whom  I  had  always  honored.     His  presence 


LETTERS.  235 

was  sunshine  ;  he  was  the  youngest  in  all  gatherings.  His  knowl- 
edge was  so  accurate  that  he  enlarged  my  conceptions  of  the  treas- 
ures of  that  great  land.  He  was  so  lovable  a  Christian  that  one 
drew  nearer  the  Master  through  him.  He  was  so  unselfish  in  all 
things  that  his  life  was  a  constant  lesson.  How  much  I  treasure 
those  days  that  taught  me  what  you  have  known  through  so  many 
years ! 

"  It  is  needless  for  me  to  add,  or,  try  to  add,  words  of  consolation  to 
you.  On  every  side,  tributes  to  him  have  come,  which  feebly 
struggle  to  express  his  worth.  The  most  eloquent  words  can  never 
set  forth  the  most  precious  creation  the  world  knows,— a  life  hid  with 
Christ  in  God 

"  And  now,  he  is  not  here  ;  he  has  pas.sed  to  God.  Blessed  hfe  ! 
noble  man  !  It  is  refreshment  to  have  known  thee  ;  inspiration  to 
mark  th}-  work  !  " 

From    Thomas  MacKellar,  Esq. 

Germantown,  Phila.,  June  24,  '92. 
'<  A  great  blow  has  fallen  on  you  and  your  dear  family  in 
the  decease  of  good  Dr.  INIann.  Your  hearts  are  sore  with  an  afflic- 
tion that  the  world  outside  cannot  meddle  with  or  appreciate,  save 
in  a  general  way.  It  is  a  thing  between  God  and  your  own  souls, 
and  nothing  but  his  living  touch  can  give  healing,  peace  and  com- 
fort to  you.  The  Lord  Jesus  is  still  as  kind  and  compassionate  as 
when  his  blessed  feet  trod  the  soil  of  earth  ;  and  he  is  just  as  near  to 
you,  though  you  see  Him  not,  as  when  He  comforted  Martha  and 

Mary.    To  Him  I  earnestly  commend  you  all 

"There  was  something  in  Dr.  Mann  that  took  a  strong  hold  on  me, 
and  my  heart  went  out  lovingly  toward  him,  as  it  does  now  toward 
his  memories  ;  and  it  touches  me  deeply  to  remember  that  here  I 
shall  see  his  kindly  and  intelligent  face  no  more.  But  heaven  is 
not  so  far  away  that  we  should  grieve  as  those  who  have  no  hope, 
when  a  beloved  one  goes  there  before  us." 


From  Rev.  Alexander  Richter. 

HOBOKEN,  N.  J.,  Oct.  13,  1892. 

"Mir  persoenlich  ist  der  liebe  Verstorbene  ja  seit  Jahren  ein 

vaeterlicher  Freund  gewesen,  den  ich  nicht  nur  ausserordentlich 
hochschaetzte  und  verehrte,  sondern  auch  von  Herzen  liebte.  Seine 
Briefe  waren  mir  stets  eine  Quelle  des  Genusses,  der  Ermunterung 


236  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

und  Belehrung  ;  sprudelnd  von  Geist  und  Humor,  weisem  Rate  und 
scharfblickender   Weltanschauung.       Er  wird    niir  unvergesslich 

bleiben  und  seinen  Platz  in  meinem  Herzen  behalten 

"So hat ihm denn  der  barniherzige  Herr,  der  ihn  im  langen  Leben 
so  reich  und  mannigfaltig  gesegnet  und  zum  Segen  gesetzt  hat, 
ein  schoenes  friedliches  Ende  inmitten  seiner  Lieben  beschieden — 
ohne  langes  Schmerzenslager,  ohne  bittern  Todeskampf ;  er  hat 
seinen  Diener  im  Frieden  fahren  lassen  und  ihm  seligen  Feierabend 
geschenkt  nach  muehsamem,  fleissigem,  erfolgreichem  und  unver- 
gesslichem  Tagewerk." 


From  Robert  Otto,  Esq. 

Kirchheim-Teck,  Wurtemberg,  July  12,  1892. 

"  Noch  vor  einigen  Wochen  erhielt  ich  einen  sehr  lieben, 

theilnehmenden  Brief  aus  seiner  Hand  ;  er  ist  vom  5  ten  Maidatirt. 
Mehr  als  aus  einem  der  frueheren  Briefe  konnte  und  durfte  ich  aus 
demselben  so  recht  herausfuehlen,  in  wie  enger,  herzlichster  Freund- 
schaft  und  Liebe  er  mit  mir  verbunden  war.  Und  nun  weilt  er 
nicht  mehr  unter  uns,  aber  ich   fuehle  es,  er  blickt  mit  einer  noch 

viel  vollkommeneren  Liebe  auf  uns  Alle  herab 

"  Der  Kreis  derer  erweitert  sich,  die  uns  vorangegangen  und  im 
Himmel  auf  uns  warten.  Wenn  sichtbare  Bande  hier  schwinden, 
so  werden  wir  durch  jeden  aehnlichen  Verlust  fester  und  inniger 
mit  dem  Himmel  verbunden  ;  je  einsamer  unser  Lebensweg  wird, 
um  so  maechtigrer  zieht  es  uns  heimwaerts  in's  Vaterhaus.''  .... 


From  Otto  Pross,  Esq. 

Lake  Constance,  Wurtemberg,  July  4,  '92. 

.  .  .  .  "  Nun  er  hingegangen  ist,  fuehlen  wir  eine  weite  Luecke 
in  unserem  Bekanntenkreis,  die  sobald  sich  nicht  schliessen  wird  ; 
und  wie  uns,  so  wird  es  den  Tausenden  gehen,  die  ihm  nahe  standen, 
hat  er  doch  alle  bezaubert  durch  Liebreiz  im  Wesen  und  Volkom- 
menheit  im  Wissen.  Niemand,  der  mit  ihm  verkehrte,  konnte 
ohne  Eindruck  bleiben  von  dem  Reichthum  des  Gemuehts  und  der 
Festigkeit  des  Charakters. 

"  Ich  erachte  es  als  ein  besonderes  Glueck,  dass  ich  Ihren  Herren 
Gemahl  vor  Zwei  Jahren  hier  begruessen  durfte  und  ich  bin  im 
Stande  das  Andenken  an  ihm  frisch  zu  erhalten." 


LETTERS.  237 

From  the  Rev.  Benj.    W.  Schmauk. 

Lebanon,  Pa.,  Feb.  ist,  1893. 

.  .  .  .  "  The  '  Memorial'  of  your  sainted  husband  is  to  me  a 
most  welcome  and  highly  prized  gift.  There  are  quite  a  number  of 
details  in  it  that  were  new  to  me  ;  and  much  that  I  knew,  but 
had  partly  forgotten,  has  been  freshened  in  my  mind  ;  the  entire 
sketch,  placing  before  me  a  more  fully  rounded  and  living  pic- 
ture of  his  life,  character  and  work  than  any  that  has  j'et  been 
drawn  by  the  pen . 

"  It  is  more  than  the  remembrance  of  him, — it  is  he  himself  in  the 
quickening,  inspiring,  moulding,  and  abiding  influence  he  exerted 
that  lives,  and  shall  ever  live  in  me,  as  in  so  man}'  others.  What  a 
glorious  group  of  loved  and  loving  ones  we  have  waiting  for  us  in 
heaven  !".... 

Frojti  Prof.  Dr.  C.  J.  Stillc. 

Philadelphia,  Jan.  9,  1893. 

.  .  .  "The  "  Memorial"  of  Dr.  Mann  is  most  interesting  and 
valuable  as  the  record  of  the  labors  of  a  man  who  never  ceased  to 
work  for  the  benefit  of  his  fellow-creatures,  striving  to  train  their 
minds,  strengthen  their  souls  and  to  minister  to  them  when  in  af- 
fliction. It  is  a  strange  proof  of  the  many  sided  nature  of  Dr.  Mann 
that  none  of  these  details,  important  as  they  are  in  forming  an  es- 
timate of  his  complete  character,  are  precisely  those  which  I  fondly 
recall  when  I  reflect  upon  the  causes  of  my  affection  and  reverence 
for  him. 

"I  had  been  taught  by  my  and  his  dear  friends.  Dr.  Krauth  and 
Dr.  Schaff",  long  before  I  knew  Dr.  Mann,  to  regard  him  with  a  spe- 
cial loving  tenderness.  He  took  great  pains  to  give  me  some  in- 
formation about  certain  genealogical  matters  in  which  I  was  once 
interested,  and  for  the  sympathy  which  he  showed  me  in  my  work, 
and  the  kindly  manner  in  which  he  helped  me,  I  felt  especially 
grateful.  I  used  to  see  him  frequently  at  the  Historical  Society, 
and  I  valued  his  support  and  sympathy  in  our  labors  there  very 
greatl}'.  He  never,  notwithstanding  his  constant  work,  failed  to 
turn  aside  and  help  me  when  I  needed  aid. 

"  It  will  always  be  a  matter  of  regret  to  me  that  I  had  not  an  op- 
portunity of  knowing  him  better  ;  but  remembering  what  our  friend, 
Dr.  Schaff",  told  me  of  his  extreme  modesty,  I  hesitated  often  to 
consult  him  for  fear  of  intrusion. 


238  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

"  I  do  not  know  anything  more  beautiful  in  this  materialistic  age 
than  the  lifelong  friendship  of  your  husband  with  Dr.  SchaflF  and  Mr. 
Gustav  Schwab.  Such  a  friendship  must  have  been  founded  on  the 
solid  qualities  of  worth  which  each  recognized  in  the  other,  a  friend- 
ship, as  we  may  well  believe,  so  strong  and  lasting  that  death  has 
had  no  power  to  sever  it. "     .     .     . 


LETTERS.  239 


Omitting  other  notices  which  appeared  in  many  of  the  papers, 
both  secular  and  church,  the  following  from  the  Lutheran,  of  July 
7,  1892,  from  the  pen  of  the  Rev.  G.  F.  Krotel,  D.D.,  LL.D.,  is 
subjoined. 

WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

The  parable  of  the  talents  still  holds  good.  The  Lord  still  calls 
"his  own  servants,  and  delivers  unto  them  his  goods."  "And  unto 
one,  he  "  gives  "five  talents,  to  another  two,  and  to  another  one  ;  to 
eveiy-  man  according  to  his  several  ability.' '  The  five  talents  repre- 
sent the  highest  endowments.  Dr.  Mann  was  one  of  those  to  whom 
the  Giver  of  every  good  and  perfect  gift  gave  five  talents.  At  the 
very  beginning,  the  lines  had  fallen  to  him  in  pleasant  places,  and 

his  was  a  goodly  heritage 

God  gave  him  a  sound  body  and  mental  faculties  of  the  most  re- 
markable kind.  It  was  easy  for  him  to  learn,  and  to  grasp  what- 
ever was  presented,  and  whatever  he  learned  seemed  to  be  retained 
by  a  memory  of  extraordinary  tenacity,  that  was  always  ready  to 

deliver  up  its  stores  of  knowledge 

He  was  a  full  man,  and  had  the  noble  gift  of  ready  expression. 
Words,  winged  words,  were  ever  ready,  to  convey  to  others  the  ever 
flowing  movements  of  a  mind  of  wonderful  alertness  and  originality. 
He  was  ready  to  converse  upon  almost  every  subject,  for  he  was 
reading  and  hearing  and  thinking  of  everything  that  could  interest 
men.  And  when  he  spoke,  it  was  not  mere  words,  but  words  full 
of  thought  and  fire  and  life,  that  stirred  his  hearers. 

And  with  all  this,  what  warmth  and  geniality  !  There  was  noth- 
ing dry  and  cold  about  him.  He  was  always  aglow.  He  had  what 
the  Germans  call  "  Gemuethlichkeit  "  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word. 
It  was  this  genial  warmth  and  kindliness  of  spirit,  in  addi- 
tion to  his  extensive  knowledge,  his  sound  scriptural  teaching,  and 
his  oratorical  ability  that  made  him  so  popular  as  a  preacher,  as  a 
lecturer,  as  a  professor  and  as  a  speaker  on  the  floor  of  Synod.  When 
men  listened  to  him,  they  not  only  heard  words  of  instruction  and 
sound  common  sense,  but  came  under  the  influences  of  a  glowing 
imagination  and  a  genial  spirit. 

And  who  that  has  known  him  has  failed  to  notice  that  inexhaustible 
flow  of  humor,  that  distinguished  him  ?  It  made  itself  felt,  not  only 
in  his  home,  and  in  his  intercourse  with  friends,  but  also  on  the 
floor  of  Synod,  where  his  sparkling  utterances  gave  life  and  bright- 


240  MEMOIR   OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

ness  to  many  a  dull  session,  and  put  the  house  in  such  excellent 
humor,  that  it  was  better  able  to  come  to  an  understanding. 

And  even  in  the  pulpit,  where  he  scrupulously  and  conscientiously 
avoided  all  that  was  in  conflict  with  the  sacredness  of  the  place,  his 
way  of  putting  things  would  often  move  his  hearers  to  an  expres- 
sion akin  to  a  smile,  such  as  is  so  natural  to  us  when  something  is 
said  in  an  unexpected,  striking,  and  original  way. 

Those  of  us  who  heard  him  preach  over  forty  years  ago,  when  he 
first  appeared  in  Phila.,  remember  the  impetuosity  of  his  delivery. 
From  the  announcement  of  his  text  to  the  close  of  his  sermon,  there 
was  a  continuous  torrent  of  words,  in  a  powerful  voice.  Large  con- 
gregations listened  with  the  deepest  attention,  and  were  greatly 
impressed  with  his  fervor.  But  as  the  years  went  on,  he  restrained 
himself  ;  and  the  comparative  deliberateness  which  has  character- 
ized his  preaching  for  a  long  time  presented  a  striking  contrast  to 
the  rush  and  impetuosity  of  his  youth. 

In  this  he  displayed  remarkable  self-control,  for  he  changed  his 
method,  believing  his  later  way  was  the  best.  Nor  was  he  mistaken 
in  his  efforts.  He  preached  most  acceptably  not  only  to  the  culti- 
vated, but  the  masses  always  heard  him  gladly. 

It  is  well  known  that  he  preached  more  frequently  than  any  of 
our  professors  among  the  congregations  of  the  Ministerium  of  Pa., 
in  towns  and  cities,  as  well  as  in  the  country,  and  wherever  he 
appeared,  he  was  welcomed  with  the  warmest  appreciation  of  his 
admirable  gifts  as  a  preacher.  There  are  few  learned  professors, 
who  have  such  gifts  of  popularity  in  the  best  sense  of  the  word. 

In  the  parable  we  read:  "  Then  he  that  had  received  the  five 
talents  went  and  traded  with  the  same,  and  made  them  other  five 
talents. ' ' 

Those  who  knew  Dr.  Mann  will  bear  testimony  that  he  most  dili- 
gently and  faithfully  used  the  five  talents  which  gave  him  such  a 
distinguished  place  among  the  highly-favored  servants  of  God. 
Whatever  gifts  he  had,  he  kept,  and  used  and  improved.  Like  the 
good  and  faithful  servant  in  the  parable,  he  did  his  utmost  to  make 
them  "  other  five  talents." 

Well  might  his  colleague  in  the  pastorate  and  in  the  Seminary, 
select  as  his  funeral  text,  the  words:  "I  must  work  the  works  of 
him  that  sent  me,  while  it  is  day :  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man 
can  work ! ' ' 

He  was  an  indefatigable  worker  all  the  days  of  his  life.  If  ever  a 
man  might  have  relied  upon  what  he  had  already  acquired,  and 
upon  his  powers  of  utterance,  he  was  the  man ;  but  he  never  had 
such  a  thought.     It  was  work,  work,  all  the  time.     The  work  of 


LETTERS.  24 1 

gathering  knowledge  that  he  might  quench  his  own  thirst,  and 
qualify  himself  to  teach  others,  in  the  pulpit,  in  the  lecture  room, 
and  by  his  pen.  Work  in  his  congregation,  ministering  to  the  sick 
and  sorrowing,  attending  to  the  ten  thousand  duties  that  claimed 
the  attention  of  the  pastor  of  one  of  the  largest  congregations. 

In  addition  to  this,  he  did  full  professional  work  in  the  Seminary 
for  years,  without  neglecting  his  congregation.  Besides  this,  all  the 
work  he  did  with  his  pen,  for  church  papers  and  reviews,  and  in  the 
preparation  of  his  books.  What  an  amount  of  the  most  painstak- 
ing and  laborious  work  was  devoted  to  the  new  annotated  edition  of 
the  "  Halle  Reports,"  to  which  he  most  faithfully  consecrated  himself 
to  the  very  last  hour  that  he  could  give  to  work  ! 

For  I  know  not  how  many  j^ears  he  was  at  his  desk  at  five  o'clock 
every  morning,  and  had  done  a  good  day's  work  before  many  began 
their  own.  And  yet,  with  all  this,  he  was  always  ready  to  meet  his 
brethren,  to  welcome  them  to  his  house  and  to  give  them  of  his 
time,  as  if  he  had  time  enough  to  do  all  his  work.  Busy  as  his  pen 
might  be,  he  was  a  most  faithful  correspondent,  and  his  friends 
never  waited  in  vain  for  a  repl3'  to  their  letters;  nor  could  anything 
happen  to  them,  that  did  not  promptl}'  call  forth  a  sympathetic 
epistle  from  him 

Rapid  in  all  his  movements,  he  was  equally  rapid  in  his  work, 
without  ever  slighting  it.  What  he  did,  he  did  carefully,  thor- 
oughly, conscientiously.  His  mind  moved  rapidly.  He  saw  through 
difficulties,  and  was  quick  to  perceive  the  relation  of  things.  When 
he  had  grasped  the  facts  and  their  bearings,  it  did  not  take  him 
long  to  put  them  upon  paper 

He  worked  the  works  of  him  that  sent  him,  and  consecrated  his 
talents  to  the  advancement  of  the  Kingdom  of  God.  He  was  de- 
voted to  the  church  of  his  fathers,  and  was  ever  ready  to  lift  up  his 
voice  in  her  behalf.  There  was  nothing  narrow  about  him,  for  he 
was  a  broad-minded,  large-hearted  and  liberal  man,  in  the  best 
sense  of  the  word.  Firm  in  his  convictions,  he  was  nevertheless 
ready  to  recognize  good  wherever  he  found  it,  and  to  make  allow- 
ance for  the  imperfections  of  men.  He  was  a  lover  of  peace,  ready 
to  forgive,  and  full  of  goodwill  to  men.  Tender-hearted  as  a  woman, 
his  sympathies  went  forth  to  all  who  needed  help,  and  none  excelled 
him  in  the  touching  manner  in  which  he  pleaded  their  cause. 

A  faithful  and  devoted  husband,  a  loving  father,  a  true  preacher 
of  the  pure  gospel  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  a  laborious  worker  in 
the  vineyard,  he  will  be  sadly  missed  in  the  home  where  he  was  all 
that  a  husband  and  father  should  be;  in  the  Seminary,  in  which  he 
was  one  of  the  most  brilliant  and  efficient  teachers  for  twenty-seven 
16 


242  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JUUUS   MANN. 

years;  in  the  city,  in  which  he  was  a  most  distinguished  and  useful 
citizen;  in  the  Synod,  into  which  he  infused  so  much  of  his  vigor- 
ous life;  in  the  congregation,  which  he  served  for  thirty-four  years, 
and  in  the  Lutheran  Church  at  large,  which  in  him  has  lost  one  of 
its  most  gifted  and  best  known  sons. 

Those  of  us  who  knew  him  best,  and  who  have  for  many  years 
enjoyed  his  friendship,  and  have  felt  the  constant  stimulus  of  his 
brilliant  mind,  of  his  ardent  spirit,  and  of  his  loving  sympathy, 
will  miss  him  most.  The  places  in  which  we  have  met  him,  will 
seem  sadly  empty.  He  filled  so  large  a  place  in  them,  and  in  our 
thoughts,  and  hearts  and  lives. 

We  thank  God  for  his  gifts,  and  for  the  work  he  was  able  to  do, 
for  by  the  grace  of  God  he  was  what  he  was.  We  thank  God  that 
he  was  permitted  to  work  so  long,  and  that  he  has  now  found  rest. 
May  his  example  stimulate  us  to  work,  in  the  same  spirit,  and  for 
the  same  Lord,  while  it  is  daj'^,  for  the  night  cometh,  when  no  man 
can  work. 


sermons  and  WistMan^txns  3Extracts* 


S^rtnon$< 


THOUGHTS  ON  DEATH. 
(Translated) 

Phil.  1 :  23  :  For  I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,  having  a  desire  to  depart, 
and  to  be  with  Christ ;  which  is  far  better. 

IN  the  gospel  lesson  of  to-day,  we  meet  our  Lord  walking 
through  the  streets  of  Capernaum.  Beside  him,  we  see 
a  man  whose  face  is  full  of  trouble  and  anxiety.  He  has 
sought  Christ  to  beg  that  he  would  come  to  his  child,  lying 
at  home  sick  unto  death.  The  Saviour  goes  with  him. 
But,  as  St.  Mark  tells  us,  they  were  met  on  the  way  by 
certain  which  said:  "Thy  daughter  is  dead!"  Was  it  a 
wonder,  that  the  father's  heart  sank  within  him?  The 
Saviour,  however,  had  the  right  word  for  him,  and  said: 
"  Be  not  afraid,  only  believe."  So  the  two  proceeded  and 
came  to  the  home,  that  because  of  the  death  of  the  child 
had  already  become  a  house  of  mourning  and  lamentation. 
All  kinds  of  people  from  the  neighborhood,  as  it  often  hap- 
pens, had  come  in.  There  was  a  great  deal  of  talk  and  noise, 
and  we  may  hear  that,  even  to  this  day,  without  any  real 
accompanying  sympathy.  There  were  those  who  wept  and 
wailed,  according  to  the  ruling  custom,  as  though  the  sor- 
row could  be  drowned  in  noise!  The  Lord  calmly  makes 
his  way  through  the  crowd  and  says  :  ' '  The  damsel  is  not 
dead,  but  sleepeth."  Then  we  are  told  :  "  They  laughed 
him  to  scorn."  He  let  them  laugh,  but  when  he  had  put 
them  all  forth,  with  the  father  and  mother  he  entered  in 
where  the  damsel  was  lying.  Had  not  death  done  its  work 
here  ?     Yes,  verily  !     But  now  the  Prince  of  Life  also  did 

245 


246  MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

his  work ;  he  stepped  to  the  bedside,  he  took  the  child  by 
the  hand,  and  said:  "Talitha,  cumi  !"  "  Maiden,  I  say 
unto  thee,  arise  ! ' '  And  straightway  the  damsel  arose 
and  walked. 

The  laughter  and  the  scorn  were  of  no  account  here. 
But  the  maiden  is  not  the  only  one  who  upon  the  Saviour's 
word  arose  from  death.  At  his  bidding,  the  son  of  the 
widow  of  Nain  came  to  life.  At  his  call,  Lazarus  came 
forth  from  his  tomb.  And  from  out  the  darkness  and  death 
of  the  soul's  sepulcher,  on  which  the  great  stone  of  the 
world  had  been  rolled,  uncounted  numbers  have  come  forth 
through  the  word  of  the  Lord.  Yea,  his  word  has  become 
the  word  of  life  unto  many  nations.  It  is  the  word  of  life 
for  the  world.  Does  it  show  much  understanding  to  seek 
in  unbelief  to  "  laugh  to  scorn  "  a  word  that  accomplishes 
these  things  ? 

It  is  very  comforting  and  very  lovely,  that  our  Saviour 
here  speaks  of  death  as  a  sleep.  He  indeed,  had  the  right 
to  call  it  so.  To  people  generally  death  does  not  seem  so 
friendly  and  pleasant.  Some  are  afraid  of  it ;  many  shud- 
der only  to  look  upon  the  dead.  They  do  not  wish  to  speak 
of  death  nor  to  be  reminded  of  it.  Live,  that  is  what  peo- 
ple want  to  do  ;  but  not  die.  Here  our  Saviour  transforms 
the  frightful  aspect  of  death  into  the  lovely  picture  of  sleep 
and  slumber.  But  sleeping  is  resting  ;  from  it  we  may  ex- 
pect an  awakening,  a  rising  and  a  coming  forth  in  renewed 
strength. 

Thus  could  our  Lord  speak  of  death,  he,  death's  con- 
queror ;  he,  the  first  fruits  of  them  that  slept ;  the  Holy 
One  of  God,  who  rested  in  the  grave,  but  did  not  see  cor- 
ruption, who  on  the  third  day  arose  glorified,  and  hath 
abolished  death,  and  brought  life  and  immortality  to  light. 

To-day,  on  the  last  Sunday  of  the  Church  Year,  we 
especially  remember  those  who  walked  life's  pathway  with 
us,  hand  in  hand  :  our  dear  ones,  through  whom,  perhaps, 
God  manifestly  blessed  us,  and  who,  fallen  asleep  in  Christ, 


SERMONS.  247 

rest  from  their  labors.  "Whose  faith  follow,  considering 
the  end  of  their  conversation  !" 

And  now,  onr  text  presents  to  us  words  written  by  a  man 
who  also  received  from  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  a  call  to  life, 
to  the  new  life  !  He  speaks  here  also  of  death.  But  see, 
the  parting  from  this  world  has  lost  all  terrors  for  him. 
Therein  we  can  learn  from  him.  Let  us  hear  therefore  : 
The  Apostle  Paul's  Thoughts  on  Death. 

The  Apostle  is  far  from  having  any  fear  of  death. 
Rather  is  he  so  fully  prepared  for  it,  that  he  has  a  DESIRE 
TO  DEPART.  And  of  that  future  state  which  awaits  him, 
he  entertains  a  BLESSED  CERTAINTY :  he  knows  he  shall 
BE  WITH  Christ. 

We  must  not,  however,  think  that  the  Apostle  recognized 
no  interests  at  all  that  still  bound  him  to  this  world.  He 
tells  us  that  he  is  "in  a  strait  betwixt  two," — departing, 
and  remaining  in  the  flesh.  "To  abide  in  the  flesh,"  he 
writes  to  the  Philippians,  "is  more  needful  for  your  further- 
ance and  joy  of  faith."  This  bound  him  to  earth,  notwith- 
standing his  "desire  to  depart."  And  we  can  readily 
understand  the  Apostle's  feeling  here.  His  was  a  noble 
motive.  The  work,  which  by  the  grace  of  God  he  had  so 
long  carried  on,  was  a  matter  of  great  concern  to  him. 
The  churches  he  had  founded  in  so  many  cities  ;  the  souls 
which  through  his  gospel  message  had  come  to  the  knowl- 
edge of  God  and  his  Son  Jesus  Christ ;  all,  to  whom  he  had 
imparted  some  spiritual  gift  to  the  end  that  they  might  be 
established,  and  he  comforted  together  with  them  by  the 
mutual  faith,  were  dear  to  his  heart.  It  is  not  so  easy  a 
matter  to  tear  one's  self  away  from  that  to  which  the  best 
part  of  life  has  been  devoted.  It  was  a  tender  tie  of  love 
that  bound  the  Apostle  to  the  Churches  and  them  to  him. 
We  see  this  plainly,  as  well  in  his  letters  to  them  as  in  the 
narrative  of  the  Acts.  (Acts  22:  11-38.)  And  especially 
close  and  tender  was  his  relation  to  the  Philippians.  (Phil. 
4:   10-17;    I,    3-8.)       So   that    from   this   standpoint,    his 


348  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

departure  would  not  have  been  easy.  But  this  feeling  was 
by  no  means  akin  to  mortal  shrinking  from  death.  Nor 
was  it  a  clinging  to  the  world  for  the  sake  of  earthly  pleas- 
ures. Much  less  was  it  a  fear  of  death  and  eternity.  Any 
one,  who,  like  the  Apostle,  had  a  thousand  times  calmly 
looked  death  in  the  face,  for  the  sake  of  the  testimony  of 
the  gospel  of  Christ,  has  proved  beyond  a  doubt  that  he  was 
not  afraid  to  die. 

But  those  bonds  of  love  were  strong  and  St.  Paul  rejoiced 
in  the  Apostleship  to  which  he  had  been  especially  called, 
and  in  which  his  labors  had  been  signally  blessed  ;  he  was 
willing  to  remain  and  carry  on  his  work.  Therefore,  when 
he  tells  us,  "I  am  in  a  strait  betwixt  two,"  we  may  feel 
assured  that  he  told  us  just  what  he  felt. 

What  other  claims,  indeed,  could  still  bind  the  Apostle 
to  things  of  this  life  ?  Truly,  he  had  experienced  enough 
of  evil.  What  had  his  whole  Apostleship  and  mission  work 
been  but  burden-bearing  and  walking  under  the  cross  ? 
Did  he  not  feel  that  in  the  abundance  of  his  sorrows  "he 
filled  up  that  which  is  behind  in  the  afflictions  of  Christ?" 
(Col.  I,  24.)  What  the  other  messengers  of  Christ  experi- 
enced was  manifest  also  in  him.  "For  we  are  made  a 
spectacle  unto  the  world,  and  to  angels,  and  to  men." 
"Even  unto  this  present  hour  we  both  hunger,  and  thirst, 
and  are  naked,  and  are  buffeted,  and  have  no  certain  dwell- 
ing-place ;  and  labor,  working  with  our  own  hands  :  being 
reviled,  we  bless  ;  being  persecuted,  we  suffer  it ;  being 
defamed,  we  entreat ;  we  are  made  as  the  filth  of  the  world, 
and  are  the  ofFscouring  of  all  things  unto  this  day."  (i 
Cor.  4:  9-13.)  Hear  what  he  has  to  impart  to  us  of  his 
experiences  as  an  Apostle  :  "Thrice  was  I  beaten  with 
rods,  once  was  I  stoned,  thrice  I  suffered  shipwreck,  a  night 
and  a  day  I  have  been  in  the  deep  ;  in  journeyings  often,  in 
perils  of  water,  in  perils  of  robbers,  in  perils  by  mine  own 
countrymen,  in  perils  by  the  heathen,  in  perils  in  the  city,  in 
perils  in  the  wilderness,  in  perils  in  the  sea,  in  perils  among 


SERMONS.  249 

false  brethren  ;  in  weariness  and  painfulness,  in  watchings 
often,  in  hunger  and  thirst,  in  fastings  often,  in  cold  and 
nakedness.  Beside  those  things  that  are  without,  that  which 
Cometh  upon  me  daily,  the  care  of  all  the  churches." 
(2  Cor.  II  :  25-28.) 

Verily  to  him  who  carries  his  cross  in  this  way,  and  at 
the  same  time  Christ  in  his  heart,  to  him  the  world  offers 
very  little  and  thoughts  of  death  bring  only  comfort. 

Think  for  a  moment  of  the  circumstances  under  which 
the  Apostle  wrote  these  words  to  the  Philippians.  The 
hand  which  held  the  pen  was  bound  night  and  day  by  an 
iron  chain  to  a  Roman  soldier.  The  persecution  of  his 
own  people,  the  Jews,  had  driven  St.  Paul  to  Rome.  To 
escape  their  murderous  designs,  he  had  appealed  before 
Roman  judges  to  the  Roman  Emperor.  After  his  long  and 
perilous  journey,  he  had  reached  Rome  and  had  stood  before 
Nero,  that  man  of  blood,  who  cared  little  whether  he  sacri- 
ficed one  human  life  or  a  thousand  !  And  Paul  had  been 
constrained  to  write  to  Timothy  :  "At  my  first  answer  no 
man  stood  with  me,  but  all  men  forsook  me  ;  I  pray  God 
that  it  may  not  be  laid  to  their  charge. ' '  And  we  may 
well  believe  the  Apostle  felt  convinced  that  the  greater 
part  of  his  work  was  accomplished  and  that  his  walk  would 
soon  be  ended.  Full  of  these  thoughts  of  death,  he  writes 
also:  "For  I  am  now  ready  to  be  offered,  and  the  time  of 
my  departure  is  at  hand.  " 

All  these  considerations  lead  us  readily  to  believe  that 
the  world  did  not  chain  the  Apostle,  and  that  he  could  re- 
gard his  departure  only  as  a  release.  He  had  not,  indeed, 
sought  the  pleasures  of  this  world.  But,  besides  this,  there 
was  another  and  a  yet  more  powerful  influence  drawing 
him  away  from  earth.  He  knew  of  something  inestima- 
bly better  and  greater  than  anything  this  world  could  offer 
him.     This  was,    "  to  be  with  Christ." 

This  expressed  for  the  Apostle  all  that  he  could  imagine 
as  desirable,  glorious,  blessed  !     He  did  not  crave  more  ; 


250  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

nor  would  he  be  satisfied  with  less.  That  word,  Christ, 
was  everything  to  him.  Others  might  find  their  life  in  the 
world.  He  could  say,  "for  me  to  live  is  Christ."  How 
devotedly,  how  tenderly,  he  must  have  loved  the  Lord  ! 
We  need  not  marvel,  in  view  of  all  this,  that  he  has  a  de- 
sire to  depart  and  to  be  with  Him,  "which,"  indeed,  is 
"far  better." 

We  have  need  to  remember  here,  that  to  the  Apostle, 
the  word  Christ,  was  not  a  mere  empty  sound.  To  most 
people  who  call  themselves  Christians  the  word  Christ  is  a 
name,  like  many  other  names  they  have  often  heard.  They 
do  not  know  him  intimately  and  stand  in  no  close  relation 
to  him.  The  deep,  all-absorbing  power  of  His  love  has 
never  penetrated  their  hearts  and  awakened  there  an  inex- 
tinguishable flame  of  responding  love  and  humble,  devoted 
gratitude.  The  new  birth  of  the  Spirit  and  the  water,  in 
which  the  soul's  deepest  depths  are  overshadowed  by  the 
divine  love,  has  not  changed  and  renewed  the  inmost  heart. 
Therefore  Christ  does  not  appear  to  them  great  and  lovely, 
glorious  and  divine.  They  do  not  feel  constrained,  like  the 
woman  in  the  gospel  story  of  to-day,  to  press  forward  in 
the  multitude  thronging  Him  and  seek  to  touch  the  hem 
of  His  garment,  that  they  may  be  made  whole.  Do  they 
not  rather  avoid  him,  as  though  afraid  of  the  virtue  that 
goes  out  of  Him  ?     They  do  not  yet  know  the  Lord. 

Had  not  this  once  been  Paul's  condition  also  ?  Verily,  and 
his  state  had  been  even  worse.  Had  he  not  as  Saul  been  a 
bitter  enemy  of  Christ,  had  he  not  beyond  measure  perse- 
cuted the  Church  of  God  and  wasted  it  ?  Upon  this  past 
Paul  looked  back  with  sorrow.  He  thought  then  that  he 
was  persecuting  a  dead  Christ.  But  when  it  pleased  God 
to  reveal  to  him  His  Son,  and  the  hand  and  Spirit  of  the 
Lord  seized  Paul,  he  felt  that  this  Christ  was  not  dead,  but 
living  and  life-giving,  a  quickener  of  the  dead, — the  Prince 
of  Life.  "And  there  fell  from  his  eyes  as  it  had  been 
scales.  "     Then  the  glory  of  the  new  life  in  faith  nourished 


SERMONS.  251 

by  the  living  spring  of  the  Savior's  justifying  grace,  was 
revealed  unto  him.  This  was,  in  truth,  a  thorough-going 
transformation, — a  resigning  of  the  heart's  thoughts  and 
motives,  as  well  as  of  the  will,  to  Christ.  And  the  Apos- 
tle, having  received  of  His  fullness,  grace  for  grace,  and  hav- 
ing given  body  and  soul  to  the  Lord,  could  say  :  "Not  I  live, 
but  Christ  liveth  in  me ;  and  the  life  which  I  now  live  in 
the  flesh,  I  live  by  the  faith  of  the  Son  of  God,  who  loved 
me,  and  gave  Himself  for  me."  And  in  him  was  the 
Savior's  word  fulfilled  :  "From  him  that  believeth  on  me, 
there  shall  flow  rivers  of  living  water. ''  For  this  reason, 
Paul  went  forth,  also,  and  joyfully  proclaimed  the  gospel 
of  Christ,  "  who  was  delivered  for  our  ofiences,  and  was 
raised  again  for  our  justification. ' '  Nor  was  it  given  to 
any  other  to  preach  Christ  with  more  telling  eifect.  Never 
did  the  story  of  the  cross  appeal  more  powerfully  to  the 
hearts  of  men  than  under  the  preaching  of  the  Apostle 
Paul. 

There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  Lord  was  with  Paul. 
His  grace  and  His  blessing  never  failed  him,  whether  he 
was  there  in  Philippi,  bringing  the  message  of  salvation  to 
the  keeper  of  the  prison  ;  or  in  the  market-place  at  Athens, 
or  there  on  the  sea-shore,  kneeling  in  prayer  with  the  elders 
of  the  congregation  at  Ephesus,  or  whether  he  stood  be- 
fore the  Emperor  to  answer  the  charges  brought  against 
him;  and  when  all  men  forsook  him,  the  Lord  "stood 
with  him.  "  The  Lord  was  with  him,  too,  when  he  wrote 
these  words  of  our  text,  when  the  thoughts  of  death 
crowded  upon  him.  Had  not  our  Savior  said  also  unto 
him  :  "Lo,  I  am  with  you  alway,  even  unto  the  end  of  the 
world  !  " 

Yet  the  Apostle,  nevertheless,  here  desires  to  depart 
"  TO  BE  WITH  Christ.  "  Ah,  that  is  again  quite  a  different 
thing,  and  an  infinitely  better  !  Even  if  Christ  is  with  us  in 
this  world,  there  are  always  so  many  other  things  that  beset 
us.     Earthly  affairs,  opposing  forces,  press  upon  us  ;  we  have 


252  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

often  to  deal  with  those  who,  perhaps,  are  not  with  Christ 
and  for  him  ;  here,  there  are  constant  attacks  upon  our  in- 
ward peace  and  we  live  in  strife  and  disturbance  ;  here,  we 
have  daily  to  struggle  with  our  own  weakness  and  to  with- 
stand the  wiles  of  the  devil,  and  never  are  we  entirely 
free  from  care  and  danger.  How  altogether  different  will  it 
be  when  we  are  once  with  Christ  !  Here  we  but  know  in 
part,  and  are  always  making  mistakes  ;  there,  is  perfec- 
tion. For  now,  we  see  through  a  glass  darkly,  but  then, 
face  to  face.  Here,  nothing  is  perfectly  pure,  perfectly 
good,  perfectly  blessed  ;  but  there,  in  the  presence  of  the 
Lord,  is  fullness  of  joy  and  at  his  right  hand,  pleasures  for 
evermore  !  And  there  is  the  congregation  of  the  saints, 
and  the  holy  angels  of  the  Lord,  and  there  is  the  cloud  of 
witnesses,  and  there  are  they  which  came  out  of  great  trib- 
ulation and  have  washed  their  robes  and  made  them  white 
in  the  blood  of  the  Lamb,  and  the  Lamb,  which  is  in  the 
midst  of  the  throne,  shall  feed  them  and  shall  lead  them 
unto  living  fountains  of  waters,  and  God  shall  wipe  away 
all  tears  from  their  eyes  ! 

To  be  then  with  Christ  was  Paul's  desire.  Was  this 
strange  ?  No.  Why  not  ?  Because  Paul  was  VERY  CER- 
TAIN of  his  future  and  knew,  therefore,  that  in  departing 
from  this  world  he  would  lose  nothing,  but  gain  all. 

There  is  nothing  more  distressing  than  to  be  annoyed  by 
doubts.  He  to  whom  nothing  is  certain,  is  like  a  man  who 
is  in  momentary  fear  that  the  ground  may  give  way  under 
his  feet.  "A  double-minded  man  is  unstable  in  all  his 
ways.  ' '  (James  i,  8.)  Who  will  expect  a  man,  uncertain  and 
wavering  in  his  faith,  to  risk  much  for  that  faith  ?  He  is 
vacillating,  and  the  thought  that  things  may  be  very  differ- 
ent, after  all,  and  that  there  may  be  no  ground  at  all  for 
this  faith,  is  always  tormenting  him.  This  is  a  great  evil. 
Between  the  two  forces,  faith  and  unbelief,  the  poor  man 
is  storm-tossed  and  he  has  neither  rest  nor  peace.  He  who  is 
in  doubt  about  his  destination,  will  take  no  sure  steps  on  a 


SERMONS.  253 

journey  ;  and  he  who  runs,  uncertain  of  his  goal,  will  lose 
the  race. 

This  was  not  the  Apostle's  case.  The  truth  of  the  Gos- 
pel of  Christ  was  as  sure  to  him  as  the  ground  under  foot 
and  the  sky  overhead.  Therefore  he  risked  everything  for 
this  cause.  Therefore  he  could  say  :  I  count  all  things  but 
loss,  and  "do  count  them  but  dung,  that  I  may  win  Christ 
and  be  found  in  him.  "  It  is  indeed  no  small  matter  to  be 
cast  out,  beaten,  stoned,  scorned  and  maltreated  for  the 
sake  of  the  faith.  To  bear  all  this  patiently  and  to  offer 
life  itself  for  a  cause,  a  man  must  be  pretty  sure  of  his 
case.  And  here  we  must  not  forget  that  this  was  no  matter 
of  temporary  enthusiasm  with  Paul,  no  sudden  ebullition 
of  feeling.  He  was  no  enthusiast,  no  fanatic.  Very  calmly, 
with  composure  and  deliberation,  he  takes  his  course,  and 
that  from  the  time  of  his  conversion  to  the  end.  Nobody 
could  be  more  clear  than  was  he,  about  what  he  believed, 
thought  and  wished.  Nobody  could  determine  more  clearly 
in  his  own  mind  what  was  to  be  his  task  in  life.  Nobody 
could  have  devoted  himself  more  calmly  and  more  perse- 
veringly  to  that  which  he  recognized  as  the  best  and  high- 
est cause.  With  whole-souled  ardor  he  began  his  work 
and  thus  he  continued  in  it  unto  the  end. 

The  Apostle  was  therefore  absolutely  certain  that  he 
would  in  all  eternity  be  with  Christ.  If  the  man  who  is 
about  to  move  out  of  one  house,  does  not  know  of  another 
that  will  receive  him,  he  is  in  a  bad  predicament.  Paul 
knew  that  he  would  soon  have  to  move  from  this  earthly 
home.  He  knew  that  his  earthly  house — the  body — would 
soon  be  destroyed.  But  this  did  not  disturb  his  peace.  He 
knew  that  he  would  be  with  Christ.  He  knew  that  if  his 
earthly  house  of  this  tabernacle  were  dissolved,  we  have  a 
building  of  God,  a  house  not  made  with  hands,  eternal  in 
the  heavens.  Since  then  he  was  certain  that  a  far  better 
home  awaited  him,  why  should  he  not  have  rejoiced  at  the 
thought   of  death  and  the  departure  from  earth  ?      How 


254  MEMOIR  OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

should  he  not  have  desired  to  be  with  Christ,  his  Lord,  his 
Savior,  his  best  friend,  and  to  be  with  him  in  all  eternity  ? 
It  is  not  well  with  us  if  we  cannot  herein  understand  the 
Apostle.  The  Christian  who  has  firmness  and  joy  of  faith 
has  also  experienced  something  of  that  desire  "to  depart 
and  to  be  with  Christ. ' ' 

The  Master,  whose  teaching  and  footsteps  Paul  followed, 
also  lived  in  this  blessed  certainty  of  eternal  life.  There- 
fore with  sublime  composure,  he  told  his  disciples  when 
preparing  them  for  his  departure,  "  I  go  unto  the  Father." 
Therefore  he  said  so  lovingly  and  comfortingly,  "  In  my 
Father's  house  are  many  mansions."  Therefore  he  prayed 
so  touchingly  :  "  Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  thou 
hast  given  me,  be  with  me  where  lam."  And  therefore 
he  assured  his  disciples  :  "  Where  I  am,  there  shall  my  ser- 
vant be  also. ' ' 

And  with  the  same  confidence  all  the  beloved  apostles 
speak  of  the  eternal  life,  reckoning  the  sufferings  of  this 
present  time  not  worthy  to  be  compared  with  the  glory 
which  shall  be  revealed.  Therefore,  St.  John,  full  of  confi- 
dent hope,  writes  :  "  My  Beloved,  now  we  are  the  sons  of 
God  and  it  doth  not  yet  appear  what  we  shall  be  :  but  we 
know  (mark  the  certainty  !)  that,  when  He  shall  appear 
that  we  shall  be  like  him  ;  for  we  shall  see  him  as  he  is." 
This  also  throws  light  upon  the  word  :  "  to  be  with  Christ. " 

How  steadfastly  did  the  early  Christians,  in  the  days  of 
persecution  and  distress,  cling  to  the  hope  of  eternal  life  ! 
With  courage  and  resignation  they  suffered  martyrdom  for 
the  sake  of  this  blessed  hope,  reckoning  the  day  of  death 
the  happy  birthday  of  a  better  life.  And  with  them  and 
the  holy  Apostles,  the  whole  Christian  Church  on  earth  to- 
day acknowledges  and  confesses  :  "I  believe  in  the  Resur- 
rection of  the  body  and  the  life  everlasting." 

We  know,  my  friends,  that  parting  from  this  world  awaits 
every  one  of  us.  You,  to  whom  life  to-day  smilingly  offers 
many  charms,  who  rejoice  in  youth  and  strength  and  before 


SERMONS.  255 

whom  life's  pathway  seems  to  stretch  in  endless  perspective, 
forget  not  that  all  flesh  is  grass  and  the  goodliness  thereof 
is  as  the  flower  of  the  field,  which  floiirisheth  in  the  morn- 
ing and  groweth  np,  and  in  the  evening  is  cut  down  and 
withereth  ;  and  therefore  let  me  recall  to  you  that  good  old 
word:  "Remember  now  thy  Creator,  in  the  days  of  thy 
youth  when  the  evil  days  come  not,  nor  the  years  draw  nigh 
whdn  l^iou  shalt  say,  I  find  no  pleasure  in  them  !' ' 

And  you,  who  stand  in  the  midst  of  life's  cares  and  labor, 
and  who  often  sigh  under  the  burden  and  the  pressure,  and 
cr>'  out  :  it  is  too  much,  too  much  ! — beware,  lest  the  care 
for  earthly  things  and  the  claims  and  demands  of  the  world 
absorb  all  your  powers,  and  you  eventually  have  neither 
room  in  your  hearts  nor  time  in  your  lives  for  the  better, 
the  higher  and  the  eternal  interests  ! 

And  you,  who  claim  and  enjoy  many  earthly  possessions 
and  who  say  unto  yourselves:  "Life  is  delightful  and  its 
charms  many,  and  every  day  brings  new  joys  and  honors  !' ' 
— oh,  forget  not  that  the  evening  sees  many  changes  of 
which  the  morning  dreamt  not.  The  hour  comes  and  per- 
haps much  sooner  than  you  now  think,  when  they  will  say 
to  you  :  "  Set  thine  house  in  order  ;  for  thou  shalt  die  and 
not  liv^e  !"   Are  you  prepared  ? 

And  you,  who  have  borne  the  burden  of  many  years  and 
who  perhaps,  with  weak  and  tottering  steps  and  trembling 
knees,  approach  the  grave,  soon,  soon  the  messenger  of 
eternity  will  beckon  for  you  and  the  question  comes  also  to 
you  :  Are  you  ready? 

Our  departure,  therefore,  from  this  world  is  certain. 
Now,  have  we  that  blessed  confidence  and  assurance  with 
which  the  Apostle  looks  forward  to  the  eternal  goal  ?  In 
our  day  we  have  need  to  ask  ourselves  this  question  with 
especial  earnestness.  People  are  now-a-days  not  inclined 
to  hold  fast  to  unseen  powers  and  possessions.  Spiritual 
things  are  so  strange  and  unfamiliar  !  What  cannot  be 
grasped  with  the  hands  and  seen  by  the    eyes  is  of  little 


256  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

account.  The  tangible  world  of  sense,  its  enjoyments,  its 
gain,  its  gold,  its  pleasures, — these  are  considered  the  great 
factors  of  happiness.  Everything  else  is  uncertain  and 
they  like  to  ignore  its  existence.  They  want  neither  to 
hear  nor  know  about  it.  What  does  not  yield  pleasure  to  the 
senses  has  no  value  in  their  world.  Therefore,  they  cannot 
enter  at  all  into  the  problem  of  eternal  life  or  eternal  hope. 
They  do  not  want  to  believe  in  an  existence  after  this  mortal 
state.  There  is  no  future,  they  say,  beyond  the  grave  ;  only 
eternal  night  and  the  silence  of  death.  Neither  life,  nor 
recognition,  nor  feeling,  nor  desire  is  there.  Neither  God, 
nor  light ;  no  retribution,  no  joy  and  no  woe  ;  it  is  therefore 
of  little  moment  how  one  lives  here,  or  what  kind  of  seed 
one  sows,  neither  the  good  nor  the  bad  bears  fruit  in  eternity. 
There  everything  is  over,  past  and  gone.  Therefore  while 
we  are  here,  we  must  live, — let  us  eat  and  drink,  for  to-mor- 
row we  shall  die  !  Let  us  not  consider  to-day  the  founda- 
tion on  which  such  a  view  of  life  rests,  and  that,  indeed,  is 
very  poor  and  shaky.  But  I  ask  you.  Are  these  comfort- 
ing thoughts  ?  Can  the  soul  strengthen  and  refresh  itself 
in  them?  Or  will  they  elevate,  vivify  and  purify  mankind? 
Do  they  contain  any  power  that  can  free  man  from  the 
bonds  of  sin,  under  which  all  languish,  or  inspire  him  with 
love  for  the  truth  and  love  to  his  fellow-man  ?  Or,  is  it  so 
certain  that  there  is  no  God,  no  eternity,  no  recompense  ? 
Was  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  a  liar  or  a  fanatic,  that  he  tells 
us  about  going  unto  the  Father  and  the  Father's  house  and 
the  many  mansions?  Or  were  his  disciples  false  witnesses 
when  they  preached  to  us  of  the  Resurrection  ?  Is  it  possi- 
ble that  there  really  is  no  God  ?  Or  is  God  a  God  of  the 
dead,  because  unbelievers  would  have  it  so? 

No,  so  long  as  the  Scripture  stands  firm  and  irrefutable ; 
so  long  as  that  Word  speaks  to  our  consciences  with  over- 
whelming force  and  testifies  against  sin  ;  so  long  as  from 
this  Word,  the  Spirit  of  a  higher,  better  world  breathes 
upon  us  ;  so  long  as  the  Spirit,  moving  our  heart's  deepest 


SERMONS.  257 

centre,  inspires  us  to  serve  God,  to  live  for  eternity,  and  to 
"labour  for  the  meat  which  endureth  unto  everlasting  life," 
so  long  we  will  joyfully  confess  :  "I  believe  in  the  life  ever- 
lasting." 

And  may  this  belief  work  in  us  joy,  as  it  did  in  the 
Apostle  Paul.  To  him,  how  refreshing  is  the  thought  that 
at  the  goal,  the  prize  awaits  him  !  he  was  so  fully  persuaded 
that  God  was  able  to  keep  that  which  he  had  committed  to 
Him  against  that  day,  and  that  there  awaited  him  an 
exceeding  and  eternal  weight  of  glory  !  And  we  can  well 
understand  that  he  desired  to  depart  and  be  with  Christ. 
This  was  by  no  means  dissatisfaction  with  his  life's  course. 
Rather  was  it  like  the  joy  of  a  child  that,  having  long  been 
among  strangers,  has  the  near  prospect  of  an  early  return 
home  ;  it  was  the  natural  wish  of  a  friend  to  be  with  the 
friend,  to  whom  he  owed  everything  and  with  whom  he 
knew  he  would  forever  be  at  home. 

Perhaps  we  cannot  deny  that  thoughts  of  death  are  rather 
uncanny  and  uncomfortable.  From  a  great  distance,  one 
can  of  course  regard  such  a  subject  with  becoming  compos- 
ure ;  but  a  nearer  approach  makes  death  so  terribly 
serious  !  Nature  resists  dissolution.  And  yet — is  death  not  a 
deliverance  from  much  evil  ?  Yes,  if  it  will  not  bring 
greater  !  The  sting  of  death,  says  the  Apostle,  is  sin. 
That  is  the  bitterness  of  it  !  Dvingf  in  itself  is  nothing-  : 
but  the  appearing  before  the  judgment  seat  of  Christ,  and 
the  rendering  an  account  of  our  stewardship  ;  all  this  is  in- 
separable from  the  thought  of  death.  It  is  for  this  reason 
that  we  are  uncomfortable  and  troubled  in  thinking  of  our 
death  and  departure. 

Should  this  be  so?  No;  assuredly  not  !  But  the  trouble  is 
that  we  do  not  yet  fully  enough  recognize  Christ  as  the  con- 
queror of  sin,  who  hath  done  away  with  it  by  the  shedding 
of  his  precious  blood,  and  has  made  us  righteous  before  God 
the  Father  and  therewith  has  robbed  death  of  its  sting  and 
the  grave  of  its  victor}'.  This  is  His  glory,  which  we  dare 
17 


258  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

not  lessen.  This  is  His  mercy  and  His  gift.  In  all  humil- 
ity, with  faith,  we  must  lay  hold  of  it.  This  alone 
will  drive  away  the  fear  of  dying  and  the  horrors  of 
death.  This  alone  sweetens  the  parting  from  earth  and 
changes  death  to  sleep.  Through  this  alone,  we  fear  no 
evil,  though  we  walk  through  the  valley  of  the  shadow  of 
death  ;  for  the  Lord  is  with  us,  his  rod  and  his  staff,  they 
comfort  us. 

My  friends,  the  Lord  was  with  Paul  long  before  Paul  was 
wholly  with  him.  This  was  so  beautiful !  But  he  wants 
to  be  with  us  also.  For  his  promise  stands  :  "  Lo,  I  am 
with  you  alway  ! ' '  Let  us  hold  fast  to  it,  and  do  our  part 
that  he  can  remain  with  us  and  vouchsafe  unto  us  his  holy 
blessed  presence.  And  if  at  times,  our  peace  is  disturbed, 
or  if  within  us  or  round  about  us  shadows  fall,  or  we  feel 
the  last  night  approaching,  let  us  cry  unto  him  and  pray  : 
"Lord,  abide  with  us  ;  for  it  is  toward  evening,  and  the 
day  is  far  spent. ' ' 


SERMONS.  259 


THE  HOLY  TRINITY. 
(Translated.) 

John  3:5:  Jesus  answered,  Verily,  verily,  I  say  unto  thee,  Except  a 
man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit,  he  cannot  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  God. 

OTHE  depth  of  the  riches  both  of  the  wisdom  and 
knowledge  of  God  !  How  unsearchable  are  his  judg- 
ments and  his  ways  past  finding  out  !  For  who  hath  known 
the  mind  of  the  Lord  ?  or  who  hath  been  his  counsellor  ?" 
Thus  the  Apostle  exclaims  in  the  epistle  of  to-day  (Rom. 
II :  33,  34,)  Light  had  broken  in  upon  him,  and  he  had  ob- 
tained a  glimpse  of  God's  "ways  past  finding  out,"  and  into 
the  conduct  of  His  kingdom  on  earth.  He  mourned  the 
unbelief  of  the  Jews.  But  while  he  recognized  in  the  blind- 
ness "  that  is  happened  to  Israel  "  the  "severity  of  God," 
he  beheld  also  the  "goodness  of  God  "  to  the  Gentiles,  and 
humbly  bowed  in  reverence  to  His  judgments.  His  wisdom, 
and  His  love. 

We  too,  have  a  mystery  presented  unto  us  to-day.  It  is 
the  festival  which  the  church  calls  Trinity.  In  the  pro- 
gress of  the  church  year  since  Advent,  God's  eternal  decree 
for  our  salvation  has  once  more  been  placed  before  us  :  the 
wonderful  development  of  the  Father's  thoughts  of  love 
toward  us  in  the  manifestation  of  Christ  in  the  flesh,  in  his 
life,  passion  and  glorification  ;  in  the  founding  of  the  Church 
on  earth,  of  the  congregation  of  the  saints,  the  work  of  the 
Holy  Spirit.  And  to-day,  on  Trinity  Sunday,  we  praise 
God  for  having  revealed  himself,  as  Triune,  as  Father, 
Son,  and  Holy  Ghost. 

Here,  indeed,  we  are  confronted  by  a  mystery,  by  some- 


26o  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

thing  we  cannot  understand,  penetrate,  nor  conceive.  But 
we  can  BELIEVE  it,  and  will  abide  by  the  old  German  verse  : 
"Three  persons  in  the  Godhead  we  glorify  eternally  !"  And 
I  would  have  you  guard  against  thinking  that  faith  is  only 
an  opinion, — of  which  there  are  so  many  in  the  world. 
No,  faith  is  the  unseen,  but  firm  hand,  with  which  we  hold 
fast  the  unseen.  Triune  God,  and  accept  him  as  our  Creator, 
Redeemer,  and  Sanctifier.  This  is  salvation  for  us  poor 
sinners.  Here  we  deal  not  with  a  question  of  opinion,  but 
with  a  confident  conviction,  a  blessed  certainty.  This  every- 
one has  realized  who  has  experienced  what  our  Lord  says  in 
the  gospel  of  to-day,  when  He  speaks  to  Nicodemus  of 
"being  born  again." 

I  am  well  aware  that  when  confronted  with  such  myste- 
ries, especially  such  an  one  as  the  Holy  Trinity,  the  elated 
understanding  and  the  ordinary  common  sense  rise  quickly 
in  revolt  and  exclaim  :  ' '  How  can  these  things  be  ?  They 
are  opposed  to  the  simplest  conception  ;  every  child  knows 
that  one  cannot  be  three,  nor  three  one  !" 

Yes,  if  God,  before  He  created  the  world  had  had  to  take 
us  men  into  His  counsels,  and  had  had  to  inquire  of  us 
what  could  or  could  not  be,  there  would  have  been,  in  truth, 
a  strange  universe.  And  shall  we  perhaps  desire  to  prescribe 
for  the  Almighty  what  Being  He  should  have  and  in  what 
manner  He  should  reveal  Himself  to  us.  His  creatures  ? 

It  is,  possibly,  not  altogether  superfluous  to  remind  people 
that  in  this  world  about  us,  three  qualities  are  often  found 
united  to  make  one,  and  that  one  can  frequently  again  be  re- 
solved into  three.  The  universe,  as  a  whole,  is  the  manifesta- 
tion of  mechanical,  chemical  and  organic  forces  ;  mankind 
consists  of  the  individual,  the  family  and  the  state  ;  man  is  a 
unit  made  of  body,  soul  and  spirit ;  the  soul  again  is  the 
union  of  feeling,  consciousness  and  will.  Every  ray  of 
light  may  be  resolved  into  light,  warmth  and  motion  ;  and 
the  harmony  of  every  musical  accord  consists  in  the  union 
of  three  distinct  sounds.     One  might  bring  endless  exam- 


SERMONS.  261 

pies  ;  but  it  is  not  necessary.  He  who  obsen^es,  finds  he 
has  reason  to  believe  that  the  principle  of  three  in  one  and 
one  in  three  is  more  widely  manifested  in  the  world  than 
he  might  at  first  have  supposed.  Not  for  a  moment  would 
I  have  you  think  that  I  would  attempt  with  such  compari- 
sons to  explain  the  mystery  of  the  Trinity.  But  they  are 
nevertheless  calculated  to  repulse  the  hasty  judgment  and 
to  make  the  proud  intellect,  that  after  all  comprehends  so 
ver\'  little,  more  careful  in  drawing  its  conclusions. 

But  to  you,   believer,   let   the    thought    that    the    one 
eternal,  true  God  has  revealed  himself  as  Father,  Son  and 
Holy  Ghost,  bring  comfort,  light,  and  peace  on  your  life's 
journey.     Hold  fast  in  joy  and  sorrow,  in  repose  and  activ- 
ity, in  life  and  death,  the  truth  that  you  have  a  Father  in 
Heaven,  who  has  created  and  preserved  you,  directed  your 
footsteps,  bestowed  countless  blessings  upon  you  in  tem- 
poral and  spiritual  things,  and  has  guarded  you  with  long 
suffering  and  patience  ;  "all  which  he  does  out  of  pure, 
paternal  and  divine  goodness  and  mercy,  without  any  merit 
or  worthiness  in  you,  and  forget  not  that  for  all  this  you 
are  in   "duty"   bound  to  thank,  praise,  serve  and  obey 
Him."     And  since  you,  like  myself  and  all  others,  are  a 
poor  sinner,  and  cannot  free  yourself  from  the  burden  of 
your  sins,  which  are  as  the  sand  of  the  sea  in  number,  and 
since  there  is  none  righteous,  but  all  have  sinned  and  come 
short  of  the  glor>'  of  God,  flee  in  the  disquiet  of  your  soul, 
to  Him,  who  is  "true  God,   begotten  of  the  Father  from 
eternity,  and  also  true  man,  born  of  the  Virgin  Mary," 
and  accept  Him  in  true  repentance  and  firm  and  confiding 
faith  as  your  Lord,  who  hath  redeemed  you,  "a  lost  and 
condemned  sinner, ' '  secured  and  delivered  you   ' '  from  all 
sins,  from  death  and  the  power  of  the  devil,  not  with  silver 
and  gold,  but  with  his  holy  and  precious  blood,  and  with 
his  innocent  sufferings  and  death,"  in  order  that  you  might 
be  his.     In  this  trust,  and  to  it,  hold  fast  ;  in  all  eternity 
you  can  neither  hear  nor  know  a  better  thing.     And  be- 


262  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

lieve  firmly  and  unwaveringly,  that  God,  tlie  Holy  Ghost, 
has  called  you  by  the  gospel,  and  that  He  desires  to  en- 
lighten and  sanctify  you  by  his  gifts,  to  separate  you  from 
the  children  of  this  world,  and  call  you  to  the  congregation 
of  the  saints  ;  and  believe  that  He  ' '  which  hath  begun  a  good 
work  in  you  will  perform  it,"  and  will  make  you  "  meet  to 
be  a  partaker  of  the  inheritance  of  the  saints  in  light." 
Withstand  Him  not,  and  ' '  grieve  not  the  Holy  Spirit  of 
God  whereby  ye  are  sealed  unto  the  day  of  redemption." 
Pray  that  He  may  come  to  you,  that  He  enter  in  and  abide 
with  you. 

Dearly  beloved,  the  mysterious  word  :  the  Holy  Trinity 
is  not  only  a  word,  a  sound  ;  no,  it  is  full  of  life,  of  strength, 
of  salvation  for  us  :  it  is  full  of  the  revelation  of  Him,  who 
is  love.  Here  is  the  source  of  all  mercy,  here  the  fount  of 
life,  here  is  the  power  against  sin  and  the  ' '  murderer 
and  liar  from  the  beginning ; ' '  here  is  the  sum  of 
all  Christianity,  the  eternal  foundation  of  all  evangelical 
tidings  and  truth,  Therefore  let  us  pray  and  sing  with  all 
our  hearts  : 


Praise  Father,  Son  and  Holy  Ghost 


\ " 


The  gospel  of  to-day  presents  to  us  yet  ANOTHER  mystery, 
namely,  that  of  "being  born  again."  And  this,  also, 
is  a  thing,  mysterious  as  it  is,  which  concerns  every  one 
of  us. 

We  here  read  that  one  of  the  Pharisees,  well-known  to  us 
from  the  gospels,  Nicodemus  by  name,  "came  to  Jesus  by 
night."  The  last  is  apparently  a  trifling  detail,  but  it 
nevertheless  has  significance,  testifying  for  the  exactness  of 
the  narrative  and  teaching  us  something  about  the  visitor. 
Did  he  wish,  perhaps,  by  not  coming  to  Jesus  in  the  day- 
time to  avoid  publicly  professing  that  he  could  not,  like 
many  of  the  Pharisees,  pass  this  man  of  Nazareth  disdain- 
fully by  ?  Or  was  it  rather  the  thought  that  in  the  quiet 
of  night,  undisturbed  by  the  multitudes  who  crowded  about 


SERMONS.  263 

the  Master  in  the  daytime,  Nicodemus  might  speak  alone 
with  Him?  However  this  may  have  been — he  came, 
which  many  others  did  not.  He  came  at  night,  yes,  and 
we  all  come  in  the  night,  in  the  darkness  of  our  own  souls, 
to  the  Lord.  We  are  by  birth  and  by  nature  in  the  dark. 
Let  us  come  to  Him  :  He  is  the  Light  that  shineth  in 
darkness  ;  and  the  darkness  comprehended  it  not.  He  is 
"  the  true  Light,  which  lighteth  every  man  that  cometh 
into  the  world."  Only  in  His  light  can  we  behold  the 
light  ;  this  Nicodemus  learned.  And  we,  too,  must  experi- 
ence it. 

Nicodemus  addressed  our  Lord  most  courteously.  He 
said  unto  Him  :  "  Rabbi,  we  know  that  thou  art  a  teacher 
come  from  God  :  for  no  man  can  do  these  miracles  that  thou 
doest,  except  God  be  with  him  !" 

We  may  feel  assured  that  these  words  were  prompted  not 
by  politeness  alone,  but  by  a  certain  kind  and  degree  of 
faith.  This  is  not  the  language  of  the  proud  Pharisee,  who 
in  advance  has  determined,  that  what  his  school  does  not 
teach  has  no  merit.  Nicodemus  was  unprejudiced,  and 
what  his  eyes  saw  and  his  ears  heard,  he  did  not  seek  to 
deny.  The  saying  :  "What  good  can  come  out  of  Naza- 
reth ?  For  out  of  Galilee  ariseth  no  prophet !"  had  not  ob- 
scured his  judgment.  In  malice  others  might  exclaim  : 
"  He  doth  not  cast  out  devils  but  by  Beelzebub,  the  prince 
of  the  devils  !"  Nicodemus  saw  in  the  miracles  of  Jesus  a 
power  which  convinced  him  that  no  one  could  do  them, 
"except  God  be  with  him."  And  therefore  he  had  ears  to 
hear  and  eyes  to  see  what  the  Saviour  taught  and  showed 
imto  all  the  people  ;  nor  could  he  fail  to  see  that  it  was 
from  Above,  and  he  acknowledged,  "  Rabbi,  we  know  thou 
art  a  teacher  come  from  God."  So  much  he  perceived, 
and  even  that  confession  proved  and  proves  that  some  ad- 
vance has  been  made  in  the  right  direction.  But  more  can 
and  must  be  attained.  Simply  to  confess  our  Savior,  a 
Rabbi  and  teacher  and  to  acknowledge  that  he  performed 


264  MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS    MANN. 

miracles  is  not  enough  to  bring  light  and  life  to  the  soul. 
Nicodemus  had  still  much  to  learn.  Here  was  fulfilled  the 
word  :  "Unto  every  one  that  hath  shall  be  given,  and  he 
shall  have  abundance  :  but  from  him  that  hath  not  shall  be 
taken  away  even  that  which  he  hath."  And  how  often  this 
is  true  in  the  world,  as  well  as  in  the  kingdom  of  God ! 

And  our  Lord  received  Nicodemus  most  kindly  ;  but  ap- 
proached him  in  His  own  way.  Into  the  words  of  polite 
greeting  with  which  his  visitor  addressed  Him,  He  did  not 
enter  at  all.  But  then  our  Saviour  is  different  from  all 
others  in  his  words  and  actions.  He  speaks  of  death,  as 
that  from  which  life  springs.  He  calls  those,  that  are  poor 
in  spirit  and  that  mourn,  blessed.  To  Him,  the  strait  gate 
and  the  narrow  way  are  the  road  to  glory.  He  came  not  to 
bring  peace,  but  the  sword  ;  and  yet  he  calls  the  weary  and 
the  heavy-laden  unto  him,  that  they  shall  find  rest  unto 
their  souls.  And  to  Nicodemus,  He,  at  once,  without  cir- 
cumlocution presents  a  mystery  of  the  kingdom  of  God  : 
*'  Except  a  man  be  born  again,  he  cannot  see  the  kingdom 
of  God  ;' '  and  repeats  the  saying,  adding  the  significant 
word  :  ' '  Except  a  man  be  born  of  water  and  of  the  Spirit, 
he  cannot  enter  into  the  kingdom  of  God." 

Here  Nicodemus  found  himself  at  once  confronted  by  an 
unfathomable  mystery.  He  could  not  imagine  what  our 
Savior  meant.  He  had  never  thought  upon  this  subject. 
His  questions  show  plainly  that  he  did  not  understand  : 
"  How  can  a  man,"  he  asks,  "be  born  again  when  he  is 
old  ?' '  And — it  does  not  precisely  redound  to  his  honor, 
that  he,  a  "  master  in  Israel,"  finds  the  words  so  altogether 
unintelligible.  For,  surely  he  was  acquainted  with  the 
law  and  the  Prophets,  and  he  knew  that  in  the  days  of  old, 
the  Psalmist  prayed  :  "  Create  in  me  a  clean  heart,  O  God  ; 
and  renew  a  right  spirit  within  me  !"  (Ps.  51  :  10),  and  that 
Jehovah  had  promised  his  people  through  his  prophet  Eze- 
kiel  :  "I  will  give  them  one  heart,  and  I  will  put  a  new 
spirit  within  you  ;  and  I  will  take  the  stony  heart  out  of 


SERMONS.  265 

their  flesh,  and  will  give  them  a  heart  of  flesh  :  that  they 
may  walk  in  my  statutes,  and  keep  mine  ordinances,  and  do 
them  :  and  they  shall  be  my  people,  and  I  will  be  their 
God."  (Ezek.  11  :  19,  20).  Surely  this  speaks  plainly 
enough  of  a  new  life,  a  being  born  again.  And  the  word 
of  the  Lord  spoken  by  the  mouth  of  Isaiah,  contains  the 
promise  that  water  shall  be  poured  "upon  him  that  is 
thirsty,  and  floods  upon  the  dry  ground  :  I  will  pour  my 
Spirit  upon  thy  seed,  and  my  blessing  upon  thine  offspring  ;" 
even  so,  Joel  spake,  "And  it  shall  come  to  pass  afterward, 
that  I  will  pour  out  my  Spirit  upon  all  flesh."  (Joel  2  :  28.) 
Assuredly  Nicodemus  had  read  all  this  and  more,  time  and 
again,  but  here  as  the  Savior  tells  him  of  being  born  of 
water  and  of  the  Spirit,  we  find  it  verified  that,  ' '  the  natu- 
ral man  receiveth  not  the  things  of  the  Spirit  of  God  :  for 
they  are  foolishness  unto  him  :  neither  can  he  know  them, 
because  they  are  spiritually  discerned."  (i  Cor.  2  :  14.)  It 
is  true,  Nicodemus  could  not  then  know  that  by  the  God- 
given  means  of  grace,  the  ' '  washing  of  regeneration  ' '  in 
Holy  Baptism,  our  sinful  natures  are  transplanted  into  a  new 
spiritual  element.  But  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old  Testa- 
ment, he  might  nevertheless  have  understood  more  fully. 
He  had  now,  although  a  ' '  ruler  of  the  Jews ' '  to  begin 
again  at  the  very  first  principles  ;  and,  through  divine  en- 
lightenment, to  gain  an  insight  into  the  mystery  of  this 
new  birth,  yea,  to  experience  it  in  his  own  heart.  And 
that  he  did  this,  we  have  reason  to  believe.   (John  7  :  50,  51  ; 

19:39-) 

And  every  one  of  us,  without  exception,   must  do  the 

same.      Our   Lord  pronounces  so  unequivocally  upon  the 

necessity  of  "  being  born  again, ' '  that  about  it  there  can 

be  no  doubt,  no  uncertainty.     But  to  us  it  is  a  mystery. 

We  know  not  how  this  thing  can  be,  that  the  Holy  Spirit, 

when  he  has  called  us  through  the  gospel,  enlightens  us  by 

his  gifts,  leads  us  to  repentance  and  faith,  and  makes  us,  who 

are  by  nature  disobedient,  now  obedient  unto  God,  how  he 


266  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

holds  communion  with  our  Spirit,  and  how,  through  the  hear- 
ing of  the  word  of  God,  he  draws  us  to  our  Savior,  assures 
us  of  the  forgiveness  of  our  sins,  and  preserves  us  in  the  true 
faith.  You  can  well  observe  that  the  wind  blows  and 
sweeps  through  the  streets  and  over  the  highways ;  but 
where  in  illimitable  space  was  its  first  motion,  and  where 
its  movement  ceases,  you  cannot  know.  "  So  is  every  one 
that  is  born  of  the  Spirit."  You  realize  well  enough 
that  a  new  life  has  entered  into  Peter  when  he  boldly 
stands  before  the  rulers  of  the  people  and  the  elders  of 
Israel,  that  shortly  before  delivered  his  Master  to  be  cruci- 
fied, and  now  joyously  professes  :  "  For  there  is  none  other 
name  under  heaven  given  among  men,  whereby  we  must 
be  saved."  (Acts  4  :  12).  Is  this  the  same  Peter  who  grew 
so  cold  as  he  sat  by  that  fire  in  the  midst  of  the  hall  of  the 
high  priest's  house,  and  was  so  pitiably  troubled  by  the  fear 
of  men  ?  Yes,  it  is  the  same  Peter,  and  yet  quite  another 
and  a  new  man.  And  is  Paul,  whom  the  love  of  Christ 
constraineth  so  that  he  is  willing  to  be  beaten,  stoned, 
scorned,  tortured,  persecuted  year  upon  year,  in  order  that 
he  may  preach  to  the  Gentiles  the  gospel  of  Christ,  is  he 
the  same  Saul,  who  once  breathed  out  ' '  threatenings  and 
slaughter  against  the  disciples  of  the  Lord?"  Yes,  the 
same,  and  yet  quite  another  and  a  new  man. 

Such  examples  show  what  a  glorious  and  divine  mystery 
is  this  "being  born  again,"  and  how  it  manifests  itself. 
For  it  remains:  Flesh  and  blood  cannot  inherit  the  king- 
dom of  God  ;  it  is  the  Spirit  that  quickeneth,  the  flesh 
profiteth  nothing.  O,  let  the  Holy  Spirit,  descending  from 
the  Father  and  the  Son,  who  testifies  also  in  you  of  Christ 
and  for  him,  renew  and  sanctify  your  heart,  and  make  you 
strong  to  withstand  all  fiery  darts  of  the  devil,  the  world, 
and  the  flesh,  and  make  you  rich  in  the  fruits  of  righteous- 
ness, and  lead  you  into  all  truth,  giving  you  the  peace  that 
the  world  cannot  give,  and  seal  you  with  his  promise,  the 
earnest   of  your   inheritance.     Let  him  mightily  exercise 


SERMONS.  267 

his  power  in  you,  and  then  only  you  will  truly  feel  why 
you  say,  "  I  believe  in  the  Holy  Ghost." 

Yet  a  third  mystery,  most  closely  knit  to  the  other  two, 
is  to-day  also  placed  before  us.  What  the  Lord  says  of 
being  born  again  is  something  that  we  experience  in  our 
lives  on  earth.  If  we  cannot  comprehend  when  he  tells  us 
of  earthly  things,  how  much  less  could  we  do  it,  if  he  told 
us  of  the  nature  and  events  of  the  other,  higher  world? 
We  know  that  when  the  Apostle  Paul  was  caught  up  into 
paradise,  he  heard  "unspeakable  words,  which  it  is  not 
lawful  for  man  to  utter"  (2  Cor.  12:  4).  But  to  Nico- 
demus,  who  addresses  our  Lord  as  a  "  teacher  come  from 
God,"  He  intimates  that  the  Son  of  man,  the  Savior  of 
the  world,  who  was  to  ascend  to  heaven  to  occupy  the 
throne  of  glor>^  must  be  of  divine  origin,  and  that  though 
He  came  and  walked  as  the  Son  of  man  upon  earth,  must 
yet  be  far  exalted  above  the  mere  nature  of  man.  In  the 
sense  in  which  our  Lord  here  speaks  to  Nicodemus,  he  also 
questions  the  Pharisees:  "What  think  ye  of  Christ,  the 
Messiah,  whose  Son  is  he?"  and  when  they  answer,  "The 
Son  of  David,"  he  reminds  them  that  David  speaks  of  the 
Messiah  as  his  Lord,  giving  him  divine  honor,  and  ascribing 
to  him  not  human  greatness  alone. 

To  Nicodemus  ,this  also  was  a  new  thought,  marvelous, 
astonishing,  mysterious,  incomprehensible.  And  to  that 
which  the  Savior  said  of  the  person  and  glory  of  the  Son  of 
Man  and — Son  of  God — he  added  also  the  great  and  pecu- 
liar feature  of  his  work  on  earth.  ' '  And  as  Moses  lifted  up 
the  serpent  in  the  wilderness,  even  so  must  the  Son  of  man 
be  lifted  up."  This  then, — to  hang  upon  the  cursed  tree, 
to  be  nailed  to  the  cross,  to  be  made  in  his  death,  a  spec- 
tacle for  all  men, — this  is  the  mysterious  means,  the  dark 
way,  this,  the  divine  "  must,  "  thus  it  has  been  foreordained, 
' '  that  whosoever  believeth  m  him,  should  not  perish,  but 
have  eternal  life. ' ' 

There  was,  indeed,  for  Nicodemus,  mystery  upon  mys- 


268  MEMOIR   OF  WIIvLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

tery  ;  that  the  Savior  of  the  world  must  be  the  Son  of 
man,  and  yet  from  Above,  from  heaven,  One  with  God  ; 
and  that  despite  his  majesty,  despite  the  supernatural  of 
his  being,  he  must  see  death,  be  lifted  up  between  heaven 
and  earth  as  that  serpent  in  the  wilderness  was  lifted  up, 
and  by  that  very  means  would  give  everlasting  life  to  all 
who  would  accept  and  believe  in  him  as  the  Savior. 

To  us,  also,  this  all  may  seem  mysterious  and  incompre- 
hensible. And  to  the  "natural  man"  it  is  "foolishness." 
But  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  in  the  Crucified  One,  God 
was,  and  reconciled  the  world  unto  himself,  and  that  from 
him  the  healing  waters  of  a  new  life  have  flowed  and  are 
flowing  ;  that  in  him  and  in  him  only  is  the  medicine  for 
the  sting  and  the  poison  of  sin,  that  by  his  death  on  the 
cross,  righteousness,  life  and  salvation  is  found  for  all  them 
that  believe.  What  would  the  world's  history  be  without 
the  Crucified  Savior  ?  What  his  life  on  earth,  without  his 
sufiering  and  death  ?  But  death  could  not  have  dominion 
over  him  who  descended  from  heaven.  He  ascended  to  his 
God  and  to  our  God,  to  his  Father  and  to  our  Father.  And 
we  also  are  to  be  heavenly,  to  live  in  the  strength  of  divine 
grace,  born  anew  of  the  Holy  Spirit,  and  when  our  life- 
work  is  done,  we,  too,  shall  enter  in  to  those  heavenly  man- 
sions. It  was  to  this  end  the  Lord  prayed  for  his  own  : 
"  Father,  I  will  that  they  also,  whom  thou  hast  given  me, 
be  with  me  where  I  am  ;  that  they  may  behold  my  glory, 
which  thou  hast  given  me  ;  for  thou  lovedst  me  before  the 
foundation  of  the  world. ' ' 

Great,  and  weighty  above  all  things,  were  the  mysteries 
upon  which  Nicodemus  looked  in  that  hour.  He  was 
placed  upon  the  one,  everlasting  foundation,  the  centre  of 
our  most  holy  faith.  And  that  is  true  of  us  to-day.  We 
gaze  upon  divine  mysteries.  The  place  whereon  we  stand 
is  holy  ground.  ' '  Put  off  thy  shoes  from  off  thy  feet, ' ' 
and  worship  the  Lord,  thy  God  !  Mystery  it  may  be,  but 
it  is  divulged  to  you,  it  enters,  renewing  and  sanctifying 


SERMONS.  269 

into  your  hearts  and  lives ;  it  clothes  you  with  the  right- 
eousness which  alone  is  acceptable  to  God  ;  it  brings  you  the 
mercy,  without  which  you  are  lost.  In  the  mystery  there 
is  revelation.  "No  man  knoweth  the  Son,  but  the 
Father  ;  neither  knoweth  any  man  the  Father, 
SAVE  the  Son,  And  he  to  whomsoever  the  Son  will 
reveal  him."  May  he  reveal  himself  to  us  all  through 
his  Holy  Spirit !  Glory  be  to  the  Father,  and  to  the  Son, 
and  to  the  Holy  Ghost  from  everlasting  to  everlasting  ! 
Amen. 


270  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JUUUS  MANN. 


SERMON  DELIVERED  AT  DR.  DEMME'S  OBSEQUIES. 
(Translated). 

"By  faith  he  being  dead  yet  speaketh."     Heb.  11:4. 

THAT  HE  IS  DEAD,  is  our  sorrow  and  lamentation  ;  that 
HE  YET  SPEAKETH,  is  our  consolation  ;  by  FAITH, 
may  tliat  admonish  and  encourage  us. 

Verily,  we  have  cause  to  mourn.  "  A  prince  and  a  great 
man  is  fallen  this  day  in  Israel."  A  nobleman  in  the 
realm  of  mind  lays  aside  his  laurels  and  descends  into  the 
sepulcher  of  his  ancestors.  The  tree,  which  for  years  had 
offered  us  the  sweetest,  wholesomest  fruits  began  to  wither, 
and  the  last  storm  has  laid  low  its  mighty  crown,  that  so 
long  towered  above  its  neighbors.  ''  A  burning  and  a 
shining  light,  in  which  we  rejoiced  for  a  season  ' '  has  been 
extinguished.  A  star  which  for  a  generation  had  shone 
with  bright  radiance  over  our  congregation,  began  to  grow 
dim  and  now  has  set,  and  it  seemed  to  us  that  the  night  was 
growing  darker  and  the  darkness,  gloomier. 

Truly,  we  are  ALL  mourners  to-day.  Most  sorrowful  are 
you,  dear  friends,  to  whom  he  was  husband,  father  and 
brother  ;  you  who  were  about  him  in  the  days  of  his 
strength  and  who  nursed  him  with  devoted  love  in  the  days 
of  his  infirmity  ;  you,  who,  when  he  could  no  longer  lift  up 
his  voice  to  God  in  the  house  of  prayer,  yet  heard  his  voice 
raised  in  supplication  at  the  family  altar.  You  had  him 
amongst  you,  a  precious  gift  bestowed  by  God  ;  now,  how 
vast  is  the  change  for  you  since  you  see  him  no  more,  since 
he  has  been  taken  from  you,  and  you  seek  him  in  vain  in 
the  old  loved  familiar  places. 


SERMONS.  271 

But  with  you  another  family  is  mourning  to-day  :  this 
large  congregation,  to  whom  as  a  spiritual  father,  he  broke 
the  bread  of  life  for  seven  and  thirty  years  ;  amongst  whom 
he  testified  with  projDhetic  inspiration  of  things  eternal  and 
divine,  in  which  he  was,  to  many,  a  well  of  living  water, 
and  as  a  "pillar  of  cloud  by  day  and  of  fire  by  night," 
showing  the  way  to  the  better  world  amid  the  confusion 
and  distraction  of  earth. 

And  with  this  congregation,  there  is  mourning  to-day  in 
the  whole  Church  ;  for  to  her,  he  was  an  ornament  and  an 
honor  ;  and  she  recognized  him  as  God's  chosen  vessel, 
strong  in  the  Spirit  and  powerful  in  utterance.  Therefore, 
we,  his  brethren  in  the  ministry,  deeply  sorrow,  we,  old 
and  young,  who  have  come  hither  from  near  and  far  to  say 
farewell  to  him,  to  whose  words  of  fire  we  listened  with 
admiration,  whom  we  reverenced  with  loving  pride,  and 
whom  in  faithful  and  grateful  love  we  shall  keep  in  blessed 
remembrance.  His  image  is  impressed  upon  our  minds  in 
deep  and  ineffaceable  lines.  Who  could  confer  with  him 
on  the  great  and  grave  questions  of  the  church  or  the  world, 
time  or  eternity,  without  an  abiding  impression  of  his 
unusual  gifts  and  mental  strength  ?  It  was  impossible  to 
come  into  contact  with  him  without  feeling  the  remarkable 
character  of  his  personality.  In  him,  unusual  talents  were 
combined  with  rare  and  many-sided  knowledge.  Who  was 
his  superior  in  the  clear  and  rapid  grasp  of  a  subject,  or  in 
wealth  and  readiness  of  memory  ?  And  by  the  side  of  these 
gifts,  there  was  an  unusual  and  surprising  soundness  of 
judgment,  a  soberness  of  thought,  a  knowledge  of  men  com- 
bined with  great  strength  of  will  and  that  inflexibility  which, 
added  to  the  power  of  the  Word,  irresistibly  swayed  those 
about  him.  His  was  a  nature  full  of  primitive  force,  indiff- 
erent in  its  noble  independence  to  the  commendation  or 
censure  of  the  world.  Never  changing  his  principles  or 
convictions  to  please  or  flatter  others,  his  unfaltering  aim 
was  truth  and  fidelity,  wisdom  and  right.     Thus  we  knew 


272  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

Mm,  a  German  with  the  noblest  German  virtues  ;  yet, 
warm  in  his  love  for  this  country,  of  which  he  expected 
great  things  for  the  world  and  for  humanity,  and  whose 
decline  from  the  purer  height  of  true  republican  principles, 
he  deeply  deplored. 

Thus  we  saw  and  knew  him  in  the  performance  of  those 
pastoral  duties  to  which  he  was  called  and  for  which  he 
was  so  eminently  fitted. 

Thus  we  often  learned  to  appreciate  and  admire  him 
when  participating  in  the  councils  of  the  vestry.  Unbend- 
ing in  that  which  he  thought  good  and  necessary,  he  knew 
how  to  select  with  great  wisdom  those  things  which  were 
truly  conducive  to  the  true  welfare  of  the  congregation. 
In  like  manner  he  made  himself  felt  in  the  meetings  of 
Synod.  Whose  judgment  there  bore  greater  weight  than 
his?  Undauntedly  he  bade  defiance  to  every  storm  that 
menaced  the  Church,  to  every  threatened  inroad  upon  her 
borders  by  the  changeable  spirit  of  the  times,  to  every  dan- 
gerous attack  upon  her  bulwark  of  faith  and  doctrine  :  far 
too  wise  was  he  not  to  distinguish  the  true  from  the  false  ; 
far  too  honest  to  ignore  differences  for  the  sake  of  worldly 
considerations.  New  measures,  however  plausible,  had  no 
attractions  for  him  so  long  as  he  felt  that  the  established 
methods  were  based  upon  truth  ;  he  realized  that  too  often 
the  want  of  appreciation  of  existing  laws  was  the  only  reason 
for  their  abolishment.  But  every  cause  that  truly  furthered 
the  kingdom  of  God  on  earth  could  rely  upon  his  hearty  co- 
operation. With  what  whole-souled  warmth  did  he  labor  for 
the  Bible  Society  and  in  the  cause  of  Home  and  Foreign 
Missions.  For  years  too,  he  sought  with  loving  devotion 
morally  and  spiritually  to  elevate  the  unfortunate  inmates 
of  our  prisons.  Who  that  was  good  and  noble  could  with- 
hold from  him  the  highest  esteem  and  deepest  veneration  ? 
How  many  lasting  monuments  of  his  greatness  and  his 
industry  has  not  the  Church  to-day  ?  Our  prayer-book  and 
our  hymn-book,  so  closely  associated  with  his  name,  bear 


SERMONS.  273 

testimony  to  his  comprehensive   mind   and   indefatigable 
labors. 

And  thns  he  went  about  among  you,  beloved  members  of 
his  congregation,  who  mourn  to-day  your  friend  and 
teacher  ;  and  thus  he  stood  especially  before  you  who  knew 
him  in  his  years  of  strength  and  vigor.  With  you  he 
shared  the  joys  and  sorrows  of  life,  and  to  you  in  a 
thousand  ways  he  brought  instruction  and  comfort,  hope 
and  courage. 

For  a  time,  enfeebled  by  sickness,  he  was  withdrawn 
from  you  and  how  often  did  you  lament  that  he  could  no 
longer  with  his  inspiring  presence  live  and  labor  in  your 
midst.  To-day,  he  is  already,  in  a  measure,  transfigured  be- 
fore us  !  The  fire  of  love  and  veneration  that  has  been  glow- 
ing in  secret,  hidden  as  it  were,  under  ashes  for  a  time,  bursts 
to-day  into  new,  bright,  warmth-giving  flame.  And  you, 
my  noble  father  and  friend,  have  well  deserved  this  love, 
this  universal  mourning  !  You,  who  spent  your  life  in  the 
service  of  this  congregation  !  To  these  your  people  you 
devoted  your  strength,  your  enthusiasm,  your  love,  your 
prayers.  O,  could  I  but  restore  you  to  them  once  more, 
you,  whom  they  ever  must  sadly  miss — how  gladly  would  I 
depart  ! 

Yes,  here,  in  this  holy  place,  to  which  to-day  you  mutely 
bid  farewell ;  here,  in  this  house  of  God,  in  which  the  stones 
would  cry  out  were  we  silent  ;  here,  in  this  place,  at  this 
altar,  on  this  pulpit,  you  wrestled  in  prayer  like  Jacob  with 
your  God,  and  with  the  sword  of  the  Spirit,  which  is  the 
Word  of  God,  you  battled  with  sin  and  unbelief,  and  with  the 
powers  of  darkness,  in  the  hearts  of  your  hearers — in  our 
hearts. 

Truly,  within  these  walls,  this  faithful  pastor  and  elo- 
quent preacher  passed  the  loftiest  moments  of  his  noble 
life  !  This  memorable  Zion's  Church  had  to  withstand  the 
encroachments  of  time,  once  more  to  receive  for  the  final 
farewell,    him  whose   glorious   voice   so   often    resounded 


274  MEMOIR  OF  WILUAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

within  tliese  walls,  where  with  overwhelming  power  he  re- 
buked the  wickedness  of  men,  the  sin  of  unbelief  and  will- 
ful disobedience  to  the  laws  of  God  and  man  ;  where  he, 
consumed  by  holy  zeal  for  Christ  and  his  atoning  love,  car- 
ried us  on  the  mighty  pinions  of  his  inspired  eloquence  far 
from  ourselves  and  the  things  of  earth  ;  and  our  hearts, 
filled  with  adoration,  were  raised  to  higher  realms  of 
thought,  aroused  to  holy  resolves,  and  bowed  in  reverence 
before  God,  our  Maker  and  Redeemer. 

How  often,  when  he  testified  of  eternal  and  heavenly 
things,  or  when  he  portrayed  the  depth  of  sin  and  misery, 
or  when  he  spoke  of  the  love  of  God,  of  his  saving  grace, 
of  the  peace  that  passeth  understanding,  of  our  great 
hope,  how  often  in  those  moments  when  his  soul  spoke 
unto  our  souls,  did  we  not  see  the  tears  coursing  down  his 
cheeks,  as  enraptured  he  stood  absorbed  by  the  thoughts 
which  filled  his  soul,  by  the  words,  which  like  a  living 
stream  came  from  his  lips  !  Who,  indeed,  could  warn, 
teach,  rebuke  and  awe,  encourage  and  persuade  as  he 
could  ? 

And  if  we  ask  by  what  power  he  did  all  this,  what  sanc- 
tified in  so  high  a  degree  all  his  talents,  we  shall  find  it  was 
that  gift  of  gifts,  to  which  the  Apostle's  word  in  the  text 
directs  us  :  it  was  by  faith. 

The  majesty  of  the  word  of  divine  revelation  and  that 
brightness,  which  streams  forth  from  the  face  of  Christ — 
and  from  him  alone, — into  this  darkened  world,  had  risen 
before  his  eyes,  and  had  become  to  him  the  light  of  life. 

What  he  was  to  you  as  a  pastor  and  preacher,  he  was  by 
faith.  His  heart  was  full  of  the  truth  which  the  Holy 
Spirit  had  revealed  unto  him,  and  his  lips  testified  of  it. 
By  faith,  this  strong  man  bowed  to  Him,  who  alone  is 
mighty.  By  faith,  the  noblest  forces  of  his  soul  were  sanc- 
tified. By  faith,  he  became  God's  co-laborer  in  behalf  of 
your  souls.  By  faith,  he  testified,  a  prophet  of  the  New 
Dispensation,  of  that  world  to  come.     By  faith,  he  felt  the 


SERMONS.  275 

powers  of  eternity  in  his  own  soul.  By  faith,  he  stood  in 
this  holy  place  and  scattered  the  seeds  of  truth  in  the 
depths  of  }'Our  hearts,  and  led  you  in  the  way  of  eternal 
life.  By  faith,  he  walked  in  patience,  and  when  all  earthly 
and  human  things  had  lost  their  charm  for  him,  this  most 
precious  of  all  possessions  remained,  and  by  faith,  he  kept 
close  to  God,  knowing  that  his  Redeemer  lived  and  that  the 
anus  of  everlasting  love  encircled  him,  and  that  in  his  ap- 
pointed hour,  God  would  bring  him  out  of  the  night  into 
the  blessed  light  of  everlasting  day  ! 

And  now,  dearly  beloved,  to  whom  so  much  was  given  in 
this  beloved  pastor,  shall  I  say  :  He  spoke  in  your  midst 
by  faith  ?     No,  the  apostle  says  :     He  YET  spEAketh. 

Not  in  vain  has  been  his  work  among  us.  Not  forgotten 
shall  be  the  testimony  he  bore  to  the  power  and  the  truth 
of  the  word  of  God.  He  yet  speaketh  through  }-ou,  who 
were  awakened,  encouraged,  spiritually  strengthened,  re- 
freshed, comforted  by  his  word  ;  in  whose  hearts  has  been 
reared  a  monument  of  love  and  gratitude  toward  him,  that 
will  outlast  time,  and  that  death  cannot  overthrow.  Not  in 
vain  has  he  scattered  the  seed  of  heavenly  knowledge.  May 
it  bear  fruit  in  eternity  and  may  he,  reunited  with  you 
stand  before  the  throne  of  God  in  that  great  day  and  say  : 
Lord,  here  am  I  and  those  whom  Thou  hast  given  me ! 

He  yet  speaketh.  Though  the  eloquent  lips  are  silent, 
there  in  the  realms  of  light  he  yet  speaketh,  praising  and 
thanking  God  for  all  his  mercies  ;  there,  seeing  God  face  to 
face,  he  prays  for  you,  for  all  his  loved  ones  here  on  earth. 
May  this  blessed  hope  be  your  comfort,  and  may  it  bind  up 
the  bleeding  hearts  of  those  who  were  bound  to  him  by  the 
nearest  and  tenderest  ties  !  His  God  is  your  God,  and  He 
heareth  prayer  and  forsaketh  not!  God  has  taken  him  unto 
Himself,  and  over  his  grave  we  write  the  words  :  "They 
that  be  wise,  shall  shine  as  the  brightness  of  the  firmament ; 
and  they  that  turn  many  to  righteousness,  as  the  stars  for- 
ever and  ever." 


276  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

We  who  are  yet  in  the  land  of  the  living  will  keep 
him  in  blessed  remembrance.  ' '  Remember  them  who  have 
spoken  unto  you  the  Word  of  God  :  whose  faith  follow, 
considering  the  end  of  their  conversation."  (Heb.  13  : 
7.)  In  the  cemetery  set  apart  for  our  congregation,  in  the 
midst  of  those  who  are  peacefully  resting  from  their  labors, 
he,  too,  will  sleep  the  last  sleep.  "Seed,  sown  of  God,  to 
ripen  in  the  day  of  the  harvest !' ' 

May  his  spirit  of  fervent  faith,  his  zeal  for  everything  holy, 
his  inspiring  word,  his  testimony  for  Christ  abide  among 
us  !  Then  will  he  not  be  altogether  gone  from  us.  Then 
shall  we  still  be  united  with  him  in  the  holy  bonds  of  love, 
of  faith,  of  hope,  until,  reunited  in  eternity  we  shall  to- 
gether in  that  church  triumphant  bring  adoration,  and 
praise  and  thanksgiving  unto  the  Lamb. 

O  how  glorious  is  the  message  of  the  gospel  of  Christ,  of 
the  Prince  of  Life  !  It  sends  its  heavenly  rays  of  light  into 
the  dreary,  weary  heart,  and  brightens  our  path  through 
this  vale  of  tears,  and  even  into  the  gloom  of  the  grave,  the 
glorious  Sun  of  Righteousness  casts  the  comforting  ray  of 
eternal  life  and  eternal  bliss  ! 

' '  The  seed  of  Abraham  though  dying, 
Not  in  despair  nor  fear  is  lying, 
For  death  to  them  that  believe  is  gain  ; 
Bonds  and  sorrow  may  oppress  them, 
But  nothing  can  in  death  distress  them. 
For  glorious  hope  dispels  the  pain  ! 
The  narrow  road  is  trod, 
The  home  is  reached  with  God, 

Heavenly,  Blessed  ! 
The  body  dies. 
The  spirit  flies, 
To  realms  supernal  in  the  skies  !  " 


39l!$cendn^ou$  ^Extracts* 


BAPTISM   AND    REGENERATION. 

(A  Tract.) 

Most  Christians  agree  that  it  is  right  and  proper  to  have 
children  baptized  and  in  this  way  received  into  the  Church 
of  Christ.  But  that  Baptism  in  the  name  of  the  Triune 
God  actually  is  regeneration,  this  appears  to  many  to  give 
undue  weight  to  Baptism,  and  they  hesitate  to  give  their 
consent. 

Now,  it  may  be  that  such  persons  entertain  no  doubt 
about  the  extraordinary  ability  of  the  godly  man,  Martin 
Luther,  as  an  expounder  of  Bible  doctrine,  and  they  would 
not  be  willing  to  contradict  him.  What  does  Luther  teach 
on  the  point  alluded  to  ?  He  says  in  his  Small  Catechism 
that  Baptism  "  worketh  forgiveness  of  sin,  delivers  from 
death  and  the  devil,  and  confers  everlasting  salvation  on 
all  who  believe,  as  the  Word  and  promise  of  God  declare. ' ' 
He  here  refers  not  to  his  own  personal  opinion,  but  firmly 
stands  on  the  Word  of  God.  He  quotes  the  words  of 
promise  which  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  spake,  as  they  are  re- 
corded in  the  last  chapter  of  Mark,  verse  i6  :  "He  that 
believeth  and  is  baptized  shall  be  saved  ;  but  he  that  be- 
lieveth  not  shall  be  damned."  And,  as  though  thinking  of 
such  as  might  object  that  this  is  not  what  they  call  regen- 
eration, he  answers  the  question,  "How  can  water  produce 
such  great  effects?"  in  this  manner:  "It  is  not  the  water, 
indeed,  that  produces  these  effects,  but  the  Word  of  God 
which  accompanies  and  is  connected  with  the  water  and 
our  faith,  which  relies  on  the  Word  of  God,  connected 
with  the  water.  For  the  water  without  the  Word  of  God 
is  simply  water,  and  no  baptism  ;  but  when  connected  with 
the  Word  of   God  it  is  a  baptism.     That  is,  a  gracious 


278  MEMOIR  OF  WILUAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

water  of  life  and  a  washing  of  regeneration  in  the  Holy 
Ghost,  as  St.  Paul  says  to  Titus,  in  the  third  chapter, ' ' 

Now  we  see  that  in  calling  Baptism  a  ' '  washing  of  re- 
generation ' '  we  fall  back,  not  simply  upon  that  great  theo- 
logian, Martin  Luther,  but  through  him  upon  the  very 
Word  of  God.  And  what  we  here  read  is  so  clear  and  de- 
cisive that  in  rejecting  it  we  must  deny  faith  in  the  Bible, 
which  says  :  ' '  According  to  His  mercy  He  saved  us  by  the 
washing  of  regeneration  and  renewing  of  the  Holy  Ghost, 
which  he  shed  on  us  abundantly  through  Jesus  Christ,  our 
Savior  ;  that  being  justified  by  grace,  we  should  be  made 
heirs  according  to  the  hope  of  eternal  life."     Titus  3  :  5-8. 

Some  might  entertain  the  idea  that  we  consider  the  child 
converted  because  it  is  baptized.  To  this  we  answer  that 
we  never  thought  of  considering  a  child  converted  on  ac- 
count of  his  being  baptized.  Regeneration  and  conversion 
have  to  be  properly  distinguished.  But  this  we  say,  that 
no  one  can  be  truly  converted  except  he  be  regenerated. 
No  one  can  give  life,  new  life,  to  himself.  This  is  God's 
doing.  Regeneration  is  the  root  of  true  conversion.  For 
the  present  we  have  to  do  with  regeneration. 

Let  us  suppose,  for  argument's  sake,  that  you  are  the 
owner  of  a  delicate  plant  which,  on  account  of  the  ap- 
proaching autumn  and  its  cold  winds  and  frosty  weather, 
you  cannot  leave  exposed  in  the  open  air.  You  give  it  a 
quiet  place  in  the  cellar,  hoping  that  there  it  will  be  pro- 
tected and  live  through  winter,  though  left  without  light, 
sun,  and  nourishment.  As  might  be  expected,  the  tender 
plant  has  a  hard  time  of  it.  It  cannot  help  itself  and  no  one 
takes  care  of  it.  At  last  the  symptoms  of  returning  spring 
show  themselves.  The  sun  rises  higher  and  higher  in  his 
daily  wanderings  across  the  sky.  Warmer  waves  of  air  blow 
over  the  land.  Enjoying  the  genial  mildness,  you  all  at 
once  remember  your  plant  and  remove  it  from  its  silent 
corner.  Alas,  how  lifeless  it  appears  to  be !  You  can 
hardly  entertain  a  faint  hope  that  a  spark  of  vitality  is  re- 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  279 

tallied.  It  would  seem  that  any  kind  of  help  came  too  late. 
However,  you  put  it  in  a  corner  protected  from  the  winds, 
a  sudden  shower  of  rain  can  do  it  no  harm.  And  now  the 
warm,  golden  rays  of  the  sun  touch  it.  On  the  evening  of 
that  day  not  the  least  change  in  the  aspect  of  that  plant 
may  be  observable.  Of  course  this  does  not  prove  that  an 
invisible  internal  transformation  has  not  taken  place,  and 
must  be  considered  as  the  forerunner  of  a  revivification. 
After  the  lapse  of  a  few  more  sunny  days  the  most  unmis- 
takable signs  of  returning  vitality  are  made  manifest.  But 
let  us  not  forget  that  the  very  first  day  was  the  starting 
point  of  the  revivification  of  the  plant.  In  the  cellar  its 
death  was  beyond  any  question.     The  sun  gave  it  new  life. 

All  this  is  simply  illustrative  language,  yet  it  teaches 
enough.  The  child,  conceived  in  sin  and  bom  into  the 
world,  is  flesh  of  flesh.  In  this,  its  natural  condition,  it  is 
not  near  to  God ;  the  love  of  God  and  of  fellow-men  is  not 
there,  but  the  love  of  the  world  and  self.  In  this  condition 
it  is  spiritually  dead,  cannot  help  itself,  and  it  is  impossible 
that  as  such  it  should  be  a  pleasing  subject  in  the  sight  of 
God,  the  Holy  One ;  the  wrath  of  God  abideth  on  it,  John 
ii.,36. 

But  the  Scriptures  also  say  that  "  mercy  rejoiceth  against 
judgment."  James  ii.,  13.  "In  his  favor  is  life."  Ps. 
XXX.  6.  It  is  not  God's  will  that  the  child  die,  but  that  it 
have  eternal  life.  From  all  eternity  He  elected  it  to  ever- 
lasting salvation.  The  child  cannot  ascend  to  the  heavens 
to  come  to  him  ;  He  comes  to  the  child.  Even  whilst  in 
the  cradle  the  child  receives  His  unspeakable  grace.  He 
has  mercy  on  it  and  loves  it.  In  spite  of  the  child's  sinful 
and  lost  condition  he  pledges  himself  through  Holy  Bap- 
tism, out  of  pure  mercy,  to  prove  to  the  child  a  merciful, 
gracious  Father.  He  transplants  it  into  his  covenant  of 
grace.  This  shows  his  great,  uninvited,  saving  love. 
Without  this  love  the  child  would  be  lost,  the  prey  of 
eternal  death.     Through  Baptism,  the  child  has   entered 


28o  MEMOIR   OF  WII.I.IAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

into  communication  with  its  Creator,  Redeemer,  Sanctifier, 
and  is  adopted  into  the  sphere  of  divine,  eternal  life.  Its 
relation  to  God  is  a  changed  one.  Instead  of  being  left  in  a 
condition  of  death,  life  is  given  to  it.  It  is  new  born,  re- 
generated. Remaining  in  this  new  condition  it  retains  bap- 
tismal grace.  In  case  of  falling  from  it  the  right,  granted 
in  Baptism,  to  view  God  as  the  merciful  Father,  and  to 
return  to  him  as  a  disobedient  but  now  penitent  son  or 
daughter,  is  to  be  used  humbly  and  gratefully.  Thus, 
through  a  true  conversion  the  condition  in  grace  may  be 
restored.  And  this  will  be  indispensable  in  the  very  largest 
number  of  cases. 

All  this  goes  far  to  prove  that  in  accordance  with  the 
simplest  fundamental  truths  of  doctrine  we  cannot  but  view 
Holy  Baptism  as  regeneration.  Of  course  the  newborn 
child  is  no  more  than  a  child.  As  such  it  is  what,  as  a 
child,  it  is  expected  to  be.  The  end  of  its  existence,  how- 
ever, is  not  to  remain  a  child,  but  to  grow  up  to  manhood. 
To  this  nursing,  feeding,  clothing,  etc.  are  needful  helps. 
In  the  same  manner,  in  a  spiritual  sense,  a  child  needs 
nursing  after  being  baptized.  It  is  revolting  against  all 
our  better  feelings  and  impulses  to  think  of  a  child  being 
put,  after  Baptism,  into  godless,  wicked,  infidel  surround- 
ings. Its  proper  place  is  the  truly  Christian  family  and  the 
congregation  of  the  saints  with  all  their  happy  influences, 
where  it  will  be  nourished  with  the  pure  milk  of  the  gospel 
of  Jesus  Christ,  and  the  Holy  Spirit  will  continue  his 
influences  to  the  end  that  the  new  birth  may  vigorously  de- 
velop spiritual  strength,  may  increase  and  produce  a  life 
full  of  the  fruits  of  true,  living  faith. 

The  blessings  bestowed  upon  the  child  in  Holy  Baptism 
are,  under  the  increase  of  spiritual  knowledge  and  experi- 
ence, to  be  kept  and  guarded  faithfully  and  perseveringly, 
and  to  be  used  conscientiously.  Neglect  herein  will  make 
us  guilty  of  receiving  the  grace  of  God  in  vain.  To  a 
child  yet  slumbering  in  the  cradle  a  million  dollars  may  be 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  281 

bequeathed.  The  vahie  of  this  million  is  unknown  to  the 
little  child.  Neither  does  the  child  know  that  it  is  the 
legitimate  possessor  of  that  sum  of  money.  The  time  will 
come  when  it  will  learn  to  understand  the  value  of  that 
possession  for  practical  purposes  of  this  life.  Two  things 
are  possible  :  of  that  ample  sum  of  money  a  wise,  beneficial 
use  can  be  made,  or  it  can  be  squandered  and  lost 
through  wickedness.  It  is  the  same  with  the  spiritual 
blessings  granted  to  us  by  free  grace  in  Holy  Baptism.  A 
man  may  know  how  to  appreciate  them,  and  daily  to  derive 
from  them  new  strength  to  fight  the  good  fight  of  faith  and 
to  live  a  godly  life  in  this  world.  On  the  other  hand  a  man 
may  treat  God's  mercy  with  contempt  and  reject  it  in  his 
blindness,  wickedness,  or  unbelief  To  him  also  divine 
grace  was  pledged  in  Holy  Baptism.  He  takes  upon  him- 
self a  fearful  responsibility. 

That  there  are  Christians  w^ho  view  Baptism  simply  as  a 
ceremony  or  as  a  figurative  emblematic  performance,  this 
we  cannot  understand.  That  Baptism  also  signifies  great 
things  and  reminds  us  of  them,  this  Martin  Luther,  in  his 
Small  Catechism  distinctly  tells  us.  Weighty  as  this  is, 
the  main  point  is  that  through  this  Baptism  we  are  bap- 
tized and  placed  into  a  living  contact  wuth  and  participation 
in  God's  revelation  as  Father,  the  primary  cause  of  all  ex- 
istence, life,  and  salvation  ;  as  Son,  the  Redeemer  from  sin 
and  all  the  misery  connected  with  it,  death,  temporal  and 
eternal  ;  as  the  Hoh^  Ghost,  who  through  the  Word  and 
the  Sacraments  appropriates  to  us  all  the  blessings  condi- 
tioned and  accorded  to  us  by  redemption. 

Ought  we  to  think  it  possible  that  the  holy  names  of  the 
Trinity  should  be  properly  used  in  the  performance  of  a 
mere  form  or  ceremony?  What  to  Christianity  is  most 
peculiar,  profound,  and  holy  is  expressed  in  the  terms 
Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost.  Let  us  not  trifle  with  them 
and  reduce  them  to  a  mere  matter  of  form  or  ceremony. 
In  them  also  is  stated  and  implied  what  is  the  most  holy. 


282  MEMOIR  OF  WII.I<IAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

the  very  nerve  and  vitality  of  Holy  Baptism.  Baptism  is 
not  simply  an  act  performed  by  us  before  God  and  his 
Church.  The  substance,  the  main  point  of  it  is,  that 
which  God  in  his  mercy  does  and  imparts  to  us. 

Beloved  evangelical  lyutheran  Christians,  do  not  allow 
yourselves  to  be  led  astray  from  the  faith  and  doctrine  of 
your  Church.  You  can  see  that  in  calling  Baptism  regener- 
ation she  stands  on  a  sure  foundation,  the  Word  of  God. 
Thank  ye  God  for  his  infinite  grace  bestowed  upon  you  in 
Baptism.  There  is  in  it  consolation  against  the  accusing 
voice  of  conscience.  Make  good  use  of  the  privileges 
granted  by  it,  that  watching  and  praying  ye  may  arise 
daily  to  fight  the  good  fight,  and  in  a  state  of  genuine  con- 
version walk  with  Christ  in  a  new  life. 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  283 


EXTRACT  FROM  AN  ARTICLE  ON  "CHURCH  AND  SCHOOL." 

Kirchenfreund,\o\.  i.,  Pk-  »62- 
(Translated.) 

.  Reviewing  the  general  plan  and  object  of  our 
public  schools,  we  shall  find  all  energies  absorbed  in  sup- 
plying the  heads  of  the  pupils  with  an  amount  of  useful 
knowledge  ;  and  at  the  same  time,  a  careful  avoidance  of 
everything  that  might  in  any  respect  refer  to  a  positive  con- 
fession of  faith.  This,  indeed,  seems  the  more  justifiable, 
as  it  clearly  follows  the  letter  of  the  constitutional  law. 
Whether  any  teacher  of  morals  in  our  public  schools  suc- 
ceeds in  faithfully  adhering  to  this  acknowledged,  lawfully 
established  principle,  we  shall  not  here  discuss.  Enough, 
teachers  are  directed  to  attain  the  largest  and  best  possible 
results  by  laboring  with  all  diligence  to  instruct,  to  inform 
and  to  educate  ;  but  to  abide  at  the  same  time  by  the  strict 
decree,  never  to  refer  to  the  fundamental  principles  of  pos- 
itive faith. 

Let  us  consider  for  a  moment  what  influence  this  setting 
aside  of  religious  instruction  must  have  upon  the  souls  of 
the  young.  '  Their  various  studies  are  to  be  pursued  with 
great  energ}',  are  presented  to  them  as  most  necessary, — the 
state  bestowing  education  upon  them  as  a  precious  gift ; 
yet,  because  of  some  wise  reason,  religion  is  entirely  thrust 
out  of  sight.  Ought  we  then  be  surprised  to  find  that  re- 
ligious convictions,  from  youth  up,  are  looked  upon  as  a 
mere  side  issue?  In  this  way,  the  consciousness  of  the 
positive  in  Christianity  becomes  more  and  more  superficial, 
acquaintance  with  things  of  the  faith,  the  definite  knowl- 
edge of  the  doctrines  of  salvation  declines  ;  and  we  seek  to 


284  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN, 

be  Christian,  without  Christianity,  to  lead  Christian  lives 
without  Christian  faith.  This  is  a  contradiction,  the  prac- 
tical significance  of  which,  the  future  may  present  to  us  in 
an  alarming  light.  To  compensate  in  after  years  for  the 
lack  of  thorough  religious  training  in  youth  is  not  easy. 
To  it,  many  of  the  extravagances  in  the  domain  of  religion 
in  our  day  may  be  traced.  And  it  is  especially  the  lack  of 
clearer  insight  into  things  pertaining  to  the  kingdom  of 
God  that  leads  to  the  invention  of  so  many  pitiable  substi- 
tutes designed  to  heal  apparent  evils  ;  but  they  can  never 
supply  what  is  wanting  in  knowledge  of  the  way  of  salva- 
tion and  the  wholesome  and  abiding  fear  of  God. 

But  consider  further  the  influence  upon  the  social  life  of 
the  masses  of  a  system  of  public  education  devoted  entirely 
to  things  worldly  and  temporary.  Deprive  the  teacher  of 
the  noblest  means  of  educating — appeal  to  the  religious 
motive — and  you  have  barred  his  way  to  the  noblest  part  of 
his  pupil, — the  soul.  Is  it  not  a  mysterious  truth  that  the 
child,  though  too  young  to  read  or  write,  yet  has  a  perception 
of  the  world  of  the  unseen,  of  the  nearness  and  existence  of 
a  God  ?  Verily  the  capacities  for  the  eternal  precede  in  their 
development  the  growth  of  worldly  talents  :  the  child,  yet 
ignorant  of  all  earthly  politics,  knows  well  the  foundation 
of  all  politics  in  the  kingdom  of  God,  which  consists  in 
this,  that  doing  right  brings  blessing  ;  but  that  evil,  as  an 
abomination  before  God,  is  followed  by  misery  and  ruin. 
In  its  first  days  of  awakening  consciousness,  the  child  can 
be  guided  to  this  truth  ;  and  well  for  that  child  when  this 
motive  impels,  rather  than  the  incentives  which  a  baleful 
worldliness  implants,  or  the  hard  school  of  life  may  teach. 
Lessen,  now,  the  teacher's  influence  by  depriving  him  of 
the  religious  motive,  the  more  he  must  seek  to  stimulate 
his  pupils  by  other  appeals.  And  so  the  imposing  scaffold- 
ing of  worldly  culture  is  built  upon  the  miserable  worm- 
eaten  props  of  ambition,  jealousy,  and  perhaps  the  fear  of 
punishment.     He  who  learns  and  strives  for  the  sake  of 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  285 

worldly  advancement  alone,  will  always  carry  under  the 
varnish  of  his  culture  a  coarse  grain.  But  just  that  nobility 
of  sentiment,  that  love  of  the  good  for  its  own  sake,  that 
high-mindedness,  that  delight  in  learning,  not  because  it 
brings  gain,  but  because  it  really  makes  man  truly  human, 
these  are  rare  pearls  in  this  century  of  materialism.  But  it 
is  no  wonder  !  Despise  to  whet  the  diamond  of  the  soul 
upon  the  diamond  of  religion,  and  clearly  enough  we  can 
see  its  rough  formlessness  reflects  no  light,  refracts  no  rays, 
and  casts  no  radiance  upon  the  fog  and  darkness  of  the 
changeful,  toilsome  life  and  strife  of  earth.  And  when 
should  a  more  appropriate  time  present  itself  than  in  the 
promising  days  of  youth,  when  the  mind  is,  above  all  things, 
receptive,  and  the  world  has  not  yet  trodden  a  hard  pathway 
across  the  heart  ?  Do  not  say  that  this  is  a  matter  for  the 
parents,  and  that  they  may  concern  themselves  about  it. 
Who  made  the  laws,  the  school  laws,  inclusive?  Are 
they  not  the  expression  of  the  will  of  the  people,  of  the 
g^eat  mass  of  the  parents  ?  And  do  they  not  plainly  pre- 
sent the  position  of  the  citizens  in  regard  to  religion  and 
the  education  of  the  young  ? 

Moreover  there  can  be  no  doubt  that  such  neglect  of  the 
culture  of  the  heart  will  sorrowfully  revenge  itself.  Could 
we  believe  that  an  essential,  innate  capacity  of  man's  soul 
could  die,  it  might  appear  to  us  that  the  spirit  of  the  times, 
by  various  means,  is  systematically  seeking  to  bring  about 
such  a  result  in  regard  to  the  capacity  for  religion  ;  to 
gradually  destroy  the  innate  longing  for  salvation  from  sin 
and  death,  and  to  put  in  the  stead  of  the  true  ethical  motive 
founded  on  faith,  a  morality  of  worldly  wisdom  and  expe- 
diency conducive  to  the  enjoyment  and  advantage  of  this 
life,  without  any  especial  reference  to  eternity.  Many  in- 
deed openly  confess  a  creed  of  infidelity,  and  others  swim 
in  this  stream  more  than  they  realize  or  even  desire  to  do. 
But  so  long  as  man  is  man,  so  long  will  religion  be  a  neces- 
sity to  him  ;  and  that,  not  only  under  the  guise  of  morality 


286  MEMOIR   OF   WILLIAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

or  an  accepted  formula  of  certain  excellent  principles,  but 
as  a  definite,  hope-inspiring  creed.  For  only  in  his  confes- 
sion of  faith  has  man  explained  and  expressed  his  position 
in  relation  to  God,  the  source  of  all  life  ;  and  to  eternity, 
the  goal  of  his  existence  ;  and  here  alone  has  he  been  able 
to  objectively  state  his  hopes  in  a  definite  manner  and  to 
give  them  clear  and  abiding  expression,  much  to  his  own 
consolation.  True  it  is,  that  times  may  come  when  the  de- 
sire to  solve  these  holiest  and  highest  questions  languishes  ; 
the  progress  of  history  may  evoke  a  materialistic  spirit  that 
directs  the  minds  of  men  more  exclusively  to  external 
things  and  their  development  and  enjoyment  ;  but  it  cannot 
satisfy  the  necessities  of  the  soul  forever.  Social  and  na- 
tional catastrophes,  turbulence  and  commotion  in  political 
life — that  rise  from  the  sway  of  materialistic  tendencies  like 
vapors  from  a  marsh — are  calculated  to  fill  souls  with 
greater  seriousness,  and  to  awaken  a  longing, for  a  hold 
upon  tilings  eternal.  But  what  under  such  stress  are  peo- 
ple to  believe,  if  the  confession  of  faith  and  the  knowledge 
of  the  way  of  salvation  has  before  been  regarded  as  so  in- 
difierent,  so  unnecessary?  Then  it  is,  that  superstition 
reaps  a  rich  harvest,  particularly  if  it  seeks  to  impress  by 
imposing  forms  and  enticing  display.  If  such  social  storms 
shook  the  pillars  of  our  national  life,  the  Roman  Catholic 
Church  might  calculate  upon  a  large  increase  from  among 
the  mass  of  those  who  do  not  exactly  know  what  they  ought 
to  believe.  With  an  indifferent,  superficial  knowledge  of 
what  one  believes,  there  is  also  naturally  no  personal  expe- 
rience of  faith,  and  especially  also  a  lamentable  wavering 
in  reference  to  creed  and  doctrine.  The  children  of  this 
world  are  wiser  in  their  generation  than  the  children  of 
light !  How  wisely  the  Roman  Catholic  Church  seeks  more 
and  more  to  do  away  with  Scripture  reading  in  our  public 
schools  !  But  over  her  own  members  she  exercises  a  constant 
oversight,  and  insures  to  the  growing  generation  careful 
instruction  in  the  doctrines  of  Rome.     Would  that  the  va- 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  287 

rious  brandies  of  the  Protestant  Church,  awakened  to  a 
lively  sense  of  the  condition  of  her  own  affairs,  might  take 
efficient  measures  to  cope  with  the  growing  danger  ! 

In  view  of  all  this,  we  cannot  feel  justified  in  entertain- 
ing for  the  cause  of  the  Church,  those  great  hopes  which 
many  place  upon  the  wide-spread  culture  and  enlightening 
influence  of  our  public  schools.  But  we  are  the  happier  to 
observe  that  of  late  greater  attention  is  being  paid  to  this 
serious  problem,  and  that  prominent  Protestant  denomina- 
tions in  our  countr}'  are  earnestly  agitating  the  question  of 
establishing  parochial  schools.  Sunday  schools,  in  spite  of 
their  many  defects,  certainly  accomplish  much  good.  If  we 
desire,  however,  more  of  the  true  enlightenment  which  Chris- 
tianity brings,  we  must  devote  to  its  study  more  time  than 
a  few  meagre  hours  on  Sunday 


288  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 


CLOSING  PARAGRAPH  OF  AN  ARTICLE  ON  "THE  NATURE  OF 

THE    CHURCH." 

Kirchenfreund,  Vol.  I,  pg.  197. 
(Translated.) 

' '  For  US  it  is  therefore  essential  to  realize 

that  the  Church  is  a  life  within  herself  and  shows  the  evi- 
dences of  life.  From  this  standpoint,  too,  we  must  con- 
ceive the  developments  of  our  own  day  within  the  sphere 
of  the  Church.  We  can  plainly  see,  however,  that  her 
condition  at  present  is  essentially  a  product  of  the  past. 
Endowed  with  life,  vivifying  life,  she  will  seek  more  and 
more  to  emancipate  herself  from  whatever  in  the  past  was 
not  healthful  growth.  In  its  entirety,  the  Church  lies  be- 
fore us  divided  into  various  kingdoms  which  had  their  rise 
at  different  periods  of  the  world's  history.  They  stand 
side  by  side,  modify  each  other  and  struggle  against  each 
other.  Yet  each  has  its  own  past  from  which  it  cannot 
sever  itself  without  becoming  different,  and  emerging 
again  as  a  new  factor.  Each  seeks  to  be  true  to  the  prin- 
ciples laid  down  in  the  past.  The  more  varied  they  are, 
the  more  varied  are  the  evidences  of  churchly  and  religious 
life  springing  from  them.  Traces  of  an  approaching  fu- 
ture transformation,  we  may  expect  as  long  as  there  is  life, 
movement,  activity.  For  life  is  change.  The  less  activity 
and  action  there  is,  the  less  is  there  life  ;  and  when 
we  look  upon  the  great  Greek  Church  languishing  in  in- 
activity, we  realize  that  her  pulse  is  ebbing.  There, 
naught  can  be  said  of  the  present  that  was  not  true  of 
preceding  centuries,  and  involuntarily  we  turn  to  a  pic- 
ture of  more  active  life.      As  with  renewed  strength,  we 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  289 

behold  the  Catholic  Church  of  Rome,  not  without  a  smile 
for  the  multiplex  activity  of  her  younger  Protestant  sister, 
observing  her  coat  of  many  colors  and  the  disorder  of  her 
housekeeping,  while  with  unfaltering  faith  in  her  oft-tried 
political  schemes,  she  daily  seeks  to  regain  what  was  lost. 
Uncertain  in  her  plans,  often  even  divided  in  her  councils, 
but  boldly  bearing  the  torch  in  the  van  of  the  world's  his- 
tory since  three  hundred  years,  the  Spirit  of  the  Reforma- 
tion wanders  through  the  lands  of  earth  and  seeks — the 
Church  ;  and  though  she  sees  about  her  nought  but  dark- 
ness and  confusion,  she  looks  up  with  the  eye  of  faith  to 
Him,  who  was  before  the  church  was,  who  is,  and  who 
shall  be  in  all  eternity. 

19 


290  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 


THREE  OPENING  PARAGRAPHS  OF  AN  ARTICLE  ON 

"UNIVERSITIES  AND  THEIR  SIGNIFICANCE 

IN  PUBLIC  LIFE." 

Kirchenfreund,  Vol.  V,  pg.  198. 
(Translated). 

The  spirit  of  our  century  is,  in  an  especial  sense,  disor- 
ganizing and  disintegrating.  There  is  evidence  of  this  in 
the  attacks  upon  conditions  of  civilized  life  which  had 
attained  a  certain  stability  and  in  which  advances  had  been 
made  in  a  definite  direction.  A  critical  tendency  already 
marks  the  leaders  of  thought  in  the  decade  before  the 
French  Revolution,  and  we  find  historical  and  traditional 
heritages  in  Church,  State  and  Society  arraigned  before  the 
forum  of  individual  thought  and  opinion.  Not  by  accident 
was  the  rising,  philosophical  school  of  that  period  in  Ger- 
many called  the  "  critical."  Yet  there  is  a  marked  differ- 
ence between  the  spirit  of  that  time  and  the  present.  What 
then  occupied  the  individual  mind  has  been  absorbed  by  the 
masses.  If  at  that  time,  the  critical  tendency  satisfied  itself 
with  analytical  thought,  the  trend  of  the  various  grades  of 
society  now  is  to  metamorphose  the  real  world,  to  destroy 
the  venerable  edifice  of  inherited  conditions  and,  forgetful 
of  the  past,  to  rebuild  upon  new  foundations.  Wantonly, 
indeed,  in  our  day  this  desire  vents  itself  rather  in  destroy- 
ing than  in  building  up.  As  a  consequence,  it  calls  forth 
on  the  other  hand,  a  one-sided  adherence  to  existing  insti- 
tutions, and  the  two  opposite  factors,  conservatism  and 
radicalism,  stand  in  bold  juxtaposition  ;  neither  will  easily 
be  exterminated.  The  forces  of  rest  and  motion  are  not 
well  adjusted. 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  29 1 

It  cannot  surprise  us  to  find  the  Universities,  also,  those 
great  laboratories  of  public  opinion,  drawn  into  the  conflict. 
To  an  extent  this  is  the  case  here,  and  the  need  is  felt  of 
having  our  important  educational  institutions  reorganized 
in  order  that  they  might  more  fully  satisfy  the  demands  of 
social  life  in  its  intellectual  bearings.  Much  more,  how- 
ever, are  the  venerable  foundations  of  the  European  Univer- 
sities shaken,  and  the  feeling  that  they  should  be  more 
nearly  conformed  to  modern  necessities  is  frequently  mani- 
fested. Certainly,  he  who  studies  the  progress  of  history, 
cannot  deny  the  significance  of  the  university  in  its  relation 
to  public  life  and  in  the  development  of  national  character. 
The  weapons  for  the  greatest  battles  waged  for  centuries 
have  been  forged  in  these  workshops.  In  the  proportion  in 
which  intelligence  gained  power,  the  importance  of  these 
institutions  increased.  In  them,  the  world  of  reality  was 
reflected  as  an  ideal  whole.  The  varied  manifestations 
which  the  universe  presented  to  the  thinking  mind  were 
reflected  in  them  ;  there  developed  into  theories,  they 
reacted  strongly  upon  the  practical  world,  and  the  more 
direct  this  influence,  the  more  immediate  was  their  effect 
upon  the  history  and  the  condition  of  the  nations,  whether 
inciting  or  restraining,  speeding  or  arresting.  For  cen- 
turies, the  intellectual  light  of  special  epochs  was  focused 
in  universities.  The  elements  of  culture  of  every  period 
in  the  various  and  manifold  avenues  of  thought  and  knowl- 
edge are  concentrated  in  them.  They  have  become  the 
centres  for  man's  deepest  thought  upon  God,  himself,  and 
the  world  about  him.  Here,  learning  possesses  herself  of 
the  diverse  spoils  of  the  past.  She  seeks  through  them  to 
comprehend  the  present,  and  with  unwavering  certainty  she 
asserts  principles,  which  are  universally  accepted  and  in  a 
thousand  ways  exert  an  influence  in  the  near  and  distant 
future.  Thus  the  effect  of  these  great  nurseries  of  culture 
upon  the  life  and  condition  of  the  nations  is  incalcu- 
lable. 


292  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

We  may  appear  to  have  overestimated  the  historical  sig- 
nificance of  the  university.  But  for  it,  history  herself 
bears  witness.  What  mastery  over  the  minds  of  men  did 
not  Aristotle  exercise  during  the  Middle  Ages  !  How  com- 
pletely for  centuries  did  he  rule  the  thinking  mind  !  And 
yet  it  was  not  even  himself ;  but  a  phantom  of  his  mind,  which 
conjured  from  his  grave  by  Arabic  professors,  wandered  to 
the  universities  of  the  Latin  and  Teutonic  West,  where  it 
haunted  the  study  rooms,  the  cloister  cells  and  all  the 
thinking  heads.  Universities  were  the  true  home  of  schol- 
astic thought  applied  to  theology  ;  they  became  the  centres 
for  the  intelligent  development  of  the  various  departments 
of  civil  law  ;  through  them,  canonical  and  Roman  rule 
gained  preponderance  in  the  Middle  Ages  ;  and  through 
them,  the  sense  of  justice  and  the  rightful  interpretation 
of  civil  law  among  Teutonic  races  were  ultimately  un- 
folded. And  when  in  the  14th  and  15th  centuries,  the 
scholars  of  Greece  occupied  the  chairs  of  Italian  universi- 
ties, the  classical  treasures  of  ancient  culture  were  divested 
of  the  dust  of  ages,  and  the  light  of  a  new  epoch  began  to 
dawn.  If  before  that  period,  the  magnetic  influence  of  oral 
delivery  inspired  the  students,  and  mighty  as  this  power 
will  ever  remain,  there  was  then  added  the  endless  multi- 
plication of  scientific  productions  through  the  art  of  print- 
ing, which,  by  extending  the  influence  of  learning  upon 
wider  circles,  increased  also  the  importance  and  signifi- 
cance of  the  universities.  What  wonders  were  accom- 
plished in  the  days  of  the  Reformation  by  such  centres  of 
learning  as  Wittenberg,  Basle  and  Geneva  !  When  thou- 
sands of  aspiring  youths  hastened  from  distant  lands  to 
Wittenberg  to  sit  at  the  feet  of  Luther  and  Melanchthon, 
one  could  grasp,  as  it  were,  with  hands,  the  mighty  influ- 
ences of  the  university  professor  and  the  power  of  university 
life.  And  since  that  day,  the  European  universities  have 
been  the  homes  of  the  greatest  thinkers  and  the  most  ex- 
tended and  profound  learning  in  all  departments  of  knowl- 


MISCELLANEOUS  EXTRACTS.  293 

edge.  With  reference  to  Germany  for  example,  we  need 
but  recall  the  names  of  Kant,  Fichte,  Schelling,  Hegel,  to 
realize  the  influence  of  the  university  in  moulding  the 
thousfht  of  the  cultured  throu":hout  the  land 


**  (ScUgcnfTclts^CSedlcItt^** 


C$eIe(senft<^H$^C$cd!cftf<^. 


LETTER  TO   DR.  SCHAFF. 
LlEBER  Freund : 

Saechzig  Jahre  dahin — weitaus  des  Weges  laengere  Haelfte ; 
hinter  uns  feme  in  rosigem  Dufte  der  Kindheit  Lachen  u.  Weinen, 
und  des  ganzen  holdeu  Kleinlebens  Spiele  und  Sorgen  ; 
hinter  uns  laengst  der  rascheren  Jugend  Streben  und  Irren, 
und  des  erwachenden  Geistes  erster  Fluegelschlag, 
und  die  erste  selige  Lust  zu  erkennen  die  Regel  der  Dinge, 
das  was  in  der  Jahrtausende  Flucht  ueberdauert  den  Wechsel, 
und  aus  der  bunten  Erscheinungen  Vielgestalt 
als  aus  rauhem  Gestein  hervorblitzt  mit  Demantgefunkel. 

Seid  mir  willkommen,  dankend  begruesst,  ihr  edele  Geister, 
der  Weltgeschichte  Adel,  ihr  gottbegnadeten  Meister, 
die  ihr  auf  der  Menschheit  dornigem  Ackerfeld 
Saamen  ausstreutet,  der  bluehet  der  sammelnden  Nachwelt ; 
Ihr  Maenner  aus  Hellas,  ihr  Streiter,  Dichter,  und  Denker, 
die  ihr  das  Irdischgemeine  getaucht  in  's  Gold  der  ewigen  Wahrheit, 
und  von  dem  Vielen  den  Geist  hinlockt  auf  das  Grosse  und  Schoene. 
Homer,  du  Liebling,  voll  Einfalt  ein  tiefer  Kenner  der  Menschen, 
der  du  so  kindlich  in  ewiger  Wahrheit  uns  malest  die  Welt  und  die  Herzen  ; 
Plato,  du  mit  dem  Tief  blick  in  der  Ideen  unsichtbare  Welt, 
und  mit  der  Sehnsucht  hinter  dem  All  und  dem  Nichts  das  Eine,  den 

[Einen  zu  finden  ; 

Und  ihr  Alle,  deren  Schlaefe  schmuecket  der  Lorbeer,  unsterbliche 

[Namen, 
Ihr  seid  uns  Fuehrer  geworden,  den  Geist  aus  Banden  zu  loesen. 

Ihr  auch,  Roms  stolze  Heldengestalten, 
die  ihr  uns  mahnet,  dass  es  gilt  dem  Manne,  Thaten  zu  thun 
und  muthig  zu  Stehen  im  Kampfe  des  Lebens. 

Da  ruft  uns,  o  Freund,  vom  fernen  Lande  des  Morgens 
der  dort  in  blutiger  Domenkrone  schwebend  am  Kreuze 
an  sich  zog  mit  magnetischen  Kraeften  die  Welt,  die  ihm  fluchte, 
dem  sie  bot  Speichel,  Geissel,  Verachtung,  und  Marter, 
dass  sie,  geheilt  von  der  Suende  umnachtendem  Wahnsinn, 
dereinst  es  ihm  dankend,  anbetend  abbitte. 

297 


298  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Und  mit  seinem  Scepter  beruelirt  er  uns  beide — 
und  wir  folgten  dem  Winke,  dem  Rufe  des  Herrschers, 
dass  wir  als  berufen  ihm  Andere  rufen. — 
Uns  fuehrte  sein  Stern  fern  hin  vom  Lande  der  Heimath, 
wp  einst  die  Wiege  uns  stand  und  der  Jugend  Traumwelt  uns  lachte, 
Weit  ueber  die  Meere  hin  der  Sonne  nach  zum  Lande  des  Abends, 
auch  unseres  Theils  einer  Neuen  Welt  zu  bringen  die  alte  Botschaft  des 

[Heils. 
Und  uns  ist  in  Liebe  der  Arbeit  die  Fremde  zur  Heimath  geworden. 
Hat  uns  der  guetige  Gott  nicht  freundlich  geleitet  ? 

Siehe,  dir  gab  er  den  Geist  des  ernsten  Forschens  und  Sammelns, 
der  herrlichsten  Kenntnisse  Schatz  in  reichgefuelleten  Scheunen, 
und  von  Allem,  was  in  der  Jahrtausende  Ringen 
die  Edelsten  Gutes  gedacht,  reichts  Du  uns,  waehlend  das  Beste, 
zu  der  Kirche  lebendigem  Grundstein,  durch  des  Baues  heilige  Hallen 
fuhrst  Du  uns  an  sicherer  Hand — und  wahrlich 
Dir  ist  das  Heilige  Buch  zum  Buche  der  Buecher  geworden, 
und  was  der  Deutschen  Heimath  sinnende  Geister, 
mit  der  Ameise  Fleiss  erforschen,  entraethseln,  erringen — 
Du  machst's  mit  ernst  sichtendem  Sinn  der  Welt  zum  Gemeingut 
und  wie  Du  zu  Haus  bist  in  Einst  und  in  Jetzt,  in  Altem  und  Neuem, 
so  ward  Dir  Europa  nur  zur  Bruecke  zwischen  Osten  und  Westen. 

Mich  aber,  den  zu  kleinerer  Arbeit  der  Meister  berufen, 
stellt  er  als  Hirte  an,  zu  weiden  die  Heerde  ; 
mir  gab  er  ein  Wort,  sein  Wort,  von  Sabbath  zu  Sabbath 
meine  Seele  zu  zuenden  am  ewigen  Licht,  und  in  anderen  Seelen 
Funken  zu  werfen  und  mit  den  Strahlen  der  himmlischen  Sonne 
zu  bannen  die  Nacht  und  Herzen  zu  binden  an's  Herze  dort  oben. 
Bald  drei  Jahrzehnte  trag  ich  des  Amtes  Wuerde  und  Buerde, 
froehlich  gewiss,  dass  Besseres  Niemand  kann  leisten, 
als  mit  des  Wortes  freundlichem  Schein  die  Irrenden  weisen 
aus  der  Wildniss  der  Welt  den  Weg  in  die  ewige  Heimath. 

Sechzig  Jahre — und  doch  noch  so  jung  !  so  ist  uns  Beiden 
zu  Muthe  und  milde  beruehrte  uns  der  Kampf  und  das  Dasein. 
hat  der  Zeitstrom  uns  auch  mit  schaeumenden  Wogen  manchmal  gefasst, 
so  hat  er  uns  geglaettet  wie  Steine,  rollend  im  Bache — 
risch  noch  stehen  wir  da,  aus  seinen  Wassern  naehrend  die  Wurzeln, 
aber  sonnend  das  Haupt  im  Glanz  des  ewigen  Lichtes, 
bie  seinem  Feigenbaum  Jeder  und  unter  dem  Weinstock 
des  eigenen  Hauses  taeglich  sich  freuend  und  Gutes  geniessend. 

Frisch  auf  denu,  entgegen  den  kommenden  Tagen  ! 
nicht  wuensch  ich  zurueck,  was  dahin — es  tauchen  von  feme 
auf  die  Ufer  des  Jenseits  und  ruecken  naeher  und  naeher. 
Schwellet,  ihr  Segel ;  du  SchifEiein,  mit  sicherem  Gauge 
richte  den  Lauf,  nach  dem  ewigem  Port  und  meide  die  Klippen, 


GELEGENHEITS-GEDICHTE.  299 

die  auf  dem  tueckischen  Meere  der  Welt  uns  droh'n  bis  zum  Ziele, 
uiul  Wcr  voti  mis  Beiden  zuerst  wirft  den  Anker 
und  wandelt  durch's  Perlenthor  mid  steht  am  Throne — 
freundlich  gedenke  er  dann  und  wartend  und  betend  des  Andem  ! 

Das  kam  mir  in's  Herz  beim  Lesen  Deines  letzten  Schreibens  und  der 
Erinnerung  an  deinen  Geburtstag.     So  sendet's  mit  freundlichem  Gruss, 

Dein 

Jan.  26,  1879.  Wm.  J.  Mann. 

BEETHOVEN. 

Der  Haydn  war  ein  lieber  Mann, 
Und  Mozart  hat  gar  wohl  gethan  ; 
Der  Haendel  herrlich  hat  gesungen, 
Dem  Mendelsohn  ist  viel  gelungen, 
Und  kommt  noch  praechtig  ausgeziert 
Tannhaeuser  hintendrein  marschirt, 
Und  auch  die  Tarantelle  dort 
Reisst  stuermisch  Alles  mit  sich  fort ; — 
Doch  endlich  komiut  im  Feuerwagen 
Beethoven  noch  vom  Sturm  getragen. 
Da  sieht  man  Alle  sich  verneigen 
Und  ehrfurchtsvoll  sie  Alle  schweigen, 
Da  hoert  man  goldne  Saiten  rauschen 
Und  der  Sonate  Alle  lauschen  ; 
Und  jetzt  kommt  im  Triumpheszuge 
Die  SjTnphonie  im  Goetterfluge 
Und  will  auf  ihren  goldnen  Schwingen 
Mit  uns  empor  zum  Himmel  dringen. 
— Da  fuehlt  mans  wohl,  das  ist  der  Meister 
Im  Reich  der  Toene  ;  und  die  Geister 
Die  er  beherrscht,  die  wollen  nimmer 
Nur  leeren  Kliugklangs  eiteln  Schimmer. 
Drum  woll'n  wir  alle  Brave  lobeu — 
Beethoven  aber — der  steht  oben  ! 


AN  HERRN  PROF.  DR.  HILPRECHT. 

Zum  Dank  fuer  zugeschickten  Rosenstrauss  und  Gruss  vor 
seiner  Reise  nach  Babylon. 

Sie  wilkommen  Blumenduft ! 
Balsam  durch  die  stille  Luft ! 
Gruss  von  treuer  P'reundeshand, 
Scheidenden  in  Lieb'  gesandt ! 


300  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Seid  wilkommen,  schoene  Rosen, 
Die  dem  Morgenland  entsprossen  ; 
Bluehet  auf  des  Ostens  Wegen, 
Uns'rem  Pilgrim  reich  entgegen. 
Flechtet  um  sein  Haupt  ihm  Kraenze. 
Fuehr't  ihn  Heim  im  naechsten  Lenze  ; 
Gute  Geister,  lasst  ihn  sehen, 
Aus  Jahrtausenden  erstehen, 
Vor  ihm  was  aus  aelt'sten  Tagen 
Stumme  Zeugen  jetzt  uns  sagen  ; 
Aber  schuetzt  ihn  wieder  Tuecke, 
Bringt  ihn  froehlich  uns  zuruecke, 
Und  bei  'm  Wiedersehens  Feste, 
Duftet,  blueht  erst  recht  auf 's  Baste  ! 
July,  1888. 


ZUR  GEBURTSTAGSFEIER. 

des  deutschen 

Kaisers  Wilhelm  II, 

Dem  Deutschen  Reichs-Konsul,  Herrn  Chas.  H.  Meyer, 

zum  Festgruss  gewidmet. 

HOCHWERTER  FrEUND  : 

Und  wieder  rufst  Du  uns  zur  Tafelrunde 
Und  ehrest  Dich  und  uns  mit  Deinem  Ruf ; 
Wer  freute  sich  nicht  einer  frohen  Stunde, 
Die  uns  des  Vaterlands  Gedaechtnis  schuf  ? 
Man  ist  im  fremden  Land  doch  nie  zu  Hause, 
Des  Deutshen  Heimweh  zieht  mit  um  die  Welt ; 
Drum  sei  willkommen,  freundlich  hehre  Pause, 
Die  heut  dem  Welt  getrieb  das  Schwungrad  stellt ! 

Tauch  auf,  o  Vaterland,  vor  unserm  Blicke, 
Sei  farbenhell  dem  innern  Auge  nah ; 
Wir  alle,  staunend  ueber  dem  Geschicke, 
Das  uns  als  Zeugen  Deines  Ruhms  ersah, 
Wir  bringen  jetzt  weit  ueber  Meeresferne 
Den  Jubelgruss  in  Dank  und  Liebe  Dir, 
Und  hoch  bis  an  des  Himmels  lichte  Sterne 
Wall  auf  im  Glanz  Dein  Kaiserlich  Panier ! 

Steh  auf  aus  Deinem  Grabe,  alter  Recke, 
Du  stirbst  uns  nie,  Du  hochgekroentes  Haupt ; 
Umwallt  vom  Kaisermantel  siegvoll  strecke 
Dein  Scepter  aus,  Lorbeer  und  Palm  vmilaubt — 


GELEGENHEITS-GEDICHTE.  301 

Da  stehn  sie  alle,  Deines  Winks  gewaertig, 
Jetzt  eine  Geisterschar,  die  Helden  all — 
Noch  heut  mit  Dir  zuni  heissen  Kainpfe  fertig 
Fuers  Vaterlaud  beim  Kriegstrompetenschall. 

Doch  schau — vom  milden  Himmelslicht  umflossen, 
Jetzt  ewig  jung  seh  ich  den  Dulder  stehn  ; 
Es  draengen  sich  die  alten  Kampfgenossen, 
In's  edle  Auge  heute  ihm  zu  sehn. 
Ein  Held  aus  Helden  hast  Du  Dich  bewaehret, 
Und  stehst  im  Schlachtgewuehle  nicht  zurueck  ; 
Ein  Held  im  Dulden  steht  Du  nun  verklaeret, 
Jetzt  ausgesoehnt  mit  herbem  Schmerzgeschick. 

Rollt  auf  mit  Stolz  des  Vaterlandes  Fahnen, 
Blast  mit  Trompeten  in  das  weite  Feld, 
Macht  dieser  Schar  da  weithin  ofFne  Bahnen, 
Sie  sind  's,  die  euch  die  freie  Bahn  bestellt — 
Ein  Bismark  und  ein  Moltke  und  sie  alle, 
Die  Schicksalsmaenner,  Deutschland's  Neugestalt ; 
Baut  weit  und  hoch  die  neue  Ruhmeshalle, 
Zu  der  die  deutsche  Jugend  kuenftig  wallt ! 

Sei  uns  gegruesst,  Du  Spross  vom  Eichenholtze, 
Reichserbe,  Stern,  der  uns  den  Pfad  erhellt ; 
Du  hast  im  Friedensfeldzug  edlem  Stolze 
Manch  hoch  gekroentes  Haupt  schon  beigesellt. 
Drum  fahre  fort !  des  Vaterlandes  Mauern 
Lass  fest  und  stark  von  innen  aus  erstehn  ; 
Und  siegreich  spotte  aller  Feinde  Lauern, 
Bis  spaet'ste  Enkel  Dein  Geburtsfest  sehn  ! 

Bald  kommt  der  Tag,  da  unsre  Bahn  vollendet, 
Das  ernste  Tagewerk  fuer  uns  gethan, 
Doch  wie  des  Vaterlandes  Los  sich  wendet, 
Das  geht  zwei  Doppelwelten  an  ; 
Nicht  Meere  und  nicht  Laender  koennen  trennen, 
Nicht  Zeit  noch  Ewigkeit  zerreisst  das  Band  ; 
Lasst  ewig  uns  die  deutsche  Treue  kennen 
Und  ewig  ist  die  Lieb  zum  Vaterland  ! 

So  kommt  den  alle,  deutsche  edle  Brueder, 

Und  segnet  beide  heut,  den  Kaiser  und  das  Reich  ! 

Ihr  Wolken,  traeufelt  Segensstroeme  nieder, 

Du  Sonne  strahle  mild  !     Und  guten  Engeln  gleich 


303  MEMOIR  OF  WII.UAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

Soil  Fried  und  Heil  durch  deutsche  Gauen  ziehen ; 
Der  Vaeter  Gott,  Er  waltet  heute  noch — 
Drum  sollen  Furcht  und  Hader  ewig  fliehen  : 
Der  Kaiser  und  das  Reich — sie  leben  hoch  ! 
January  27, 1890. 


AN  HERRN  JOHN  D.  LANKENAU, 

zum  Geburtstags-gruss. 

In  frueher  Morgenstunde 
Komm  ich  und  klopfe  an  ; 
Sie  hat  ja  Gold  im  Munde — 
Ich  haett's  auch  gem — wohlan, 
So  komm  ich  denn  und  bringe 
Geburtstags-gruss  Dir  dar ; 
Gott  geb's,  dass  es  gelinge 
Noch  mansches  lange  Jahr  ! 

Im  traulich  stillen  Raume, 
"Wo  Niemand  laermt  und  stoert : 
Wo  Dich  mit  seinem  Schaume 
Der  Weltglanz  nie  bethoert ; 
Da  weilst  Du,  Freund,  und  sinnest, 
Und  hast  nicht  Rast  noch  Ruh, 
Und  was  Du  so  beginnest, 
Schlies'st  zart  Du  in  Dir  zu. 

Auf  Deinem  Tische  liegen 
Viel  Dokumente  schwer ; 
Und  Brief  und  Blaetter  fliegen 
Wie  Tauben  zu  dir  her  ; 
Viel  Bitten,  Wuensche,  Fragen — ■ 
Sollst  Antwort  geben  d'rauf ; 
Magst  noch  so  sehr  Dich  plagen, 
Das  hoert  d'rum  doch  nicht  auf. 

Und  bist  Du  dann  alleine, 
Ein  Mann  nur  ganz  fuer  sich  ? 
Fuehlst  Du  im  Daemmerscheine 
Denn  nicht  verlassen  Dich  ? 
O  nein,  sie  sind's,  die  Deinen, 
Die  schweben  um  Dich  her, 
Sich  liebend  Dir  zu  einen 
Aus  jener  Welt  so  hehr. 


GELEGENHEITS-GEDICHTE.  303 

Seid  zweifach  heut  willkommen, 

Lichtboten  jener  Welt ; 

Der  trueben  Erd  entnomnien, 

Wohnt  ihr  im  Himnielszelt  ; 

Bringt  heute  Freud  and  Frieden 

In's  treue,  liebe  Herz  ; 

Ihr  seid  ihm  nicht  geschieden, 

Ihr  ziehet's  himmelwaerts ! 

Doch,  Freund,  Du  bist  nicht  immer 

Da  in  dem  stillen  Raum  ; 

Und  Ruh  bei  Lampenschimmer 

Befriediget  Dich  kaum  ; 

Du  suchst  nicht  traeges  Rasten, 

Du  bist  ein  Arbeitsmann, 

Bist  frisch  bei  schweren  Lasten, 

Ein  Held  der  tragen  kann. 

Drum  seh  ich  Dich  im  Saale 
An  Kranker  Brueder  Bett 
Wo  Dir  im  Hospitale 
Ein  dauernd  Denkmal  steht ; 
Ich  weiss,  das  Alle  segnen 
Dein  Gehen  aus  und  ein 
Und  Ihnen  Dein  Begegnen 
Muss  Gruss  und  Freude  sein. 

Und  wo  empor  zum  Himmel 
Der  schlanke  Thurm  sich  hebt 
Und  sonntaeglich  gewimmel 
Den  heil'gen  Raum  belebt, 
Du  hast  Du  ed'ler  Liebe 
Ein  Mutterhaus  erbaut, 
Dass  sie  sich  eifrig  uebe, 
Des  ew'gen  Koenig's  Braut. 

Die  Alten,  los  von  Sorgen — 
Du  sorgtest  ja  fuer  sie — 
Die  leben  dort  geboren 
Ohn'  Mangel  spaeth  and  frueh. 
Den  Kiudlein,  auch  mit  Schmerzen 
Schon  allezufrueh  bekannt, 
Hast  Du  die  Schwesterherzen 
Zu  treuster  Pfleg'  gesandt. 


304  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Und  wenn  wir  als  Gesellen 
Um  Dich,  den  Meister,  stehn  ; 
Uns  an  die  Arbeit  stellen, 
Auf  Deine  Haende  sehn  ; 
Dann  regt  Dein  eifrig  Walten 
Uns  auch  zum  Eifer  an  ; 
Wir  wollen's  mit  Dir  halten, 
Du  fieiss'ger  Arbeitsmann  ! 

Webr,  bitt  ich,  dem  Gedanken, 
Dass  ich  Dich  loben  will ; 
Ich  kenne  jene  Schranken, 
Die  mir  gebieten  :     Still  ! 
Ich  kann  mich  willig  beugen 
Und  schliesse  meinen  Mund  ; 
Doch  Stein  und  Mauern  zeugen, 
Thun  schweigend  Alles  kund. 

Nur  Eines  moecht  ich  fragen, 
Das  ist  mir  unbekannt, 
Vielleicht  wirst  Du  mir  sagen, 
Wie  Du  das  bringst  zu  Stand  : 
Was  haben  Viele  Muehe, 
Dass  Hab'  und  Gut  werd'  gross  ; 
Und  Du  sinnst  spaet  und  fruehe, 
Wie  Du  Dein  Geld  wirst  los  ? 

O  seliges  Beginnen, 

O  seltener  Verstand  ! 

Es  stammt  ein  solches  Sinnen 

Aus  einem  bess'ren  Land. 

Da  weht  ein  Hauch  von  oben, 

Ein  Strahl  erglaenzt  von  fern, 

Und  gute  Geister  loben 

Mit  Dir,  Gott,  unsern  Herrn. 

Ein  Straeusslein  wollt  ich  druecken 
Dir  heute  in  die  Hand, 
Die  schoensten  Rosen  pfluecken 
Aus  reichstem  Gartenland. 
Doch  muss  ich  mich  bescheiden, 
Und  sage  :     Nimm  vorlieb  ! 
Nur  musst  nicht  von  uns  scheiden, 
Bleib  da — Du  bist  uns  lieb  ! 
March  18,  1890. 


GELEGENHEITS-GEDICHTE.  305 


AN  HERRN  CHARLES  A.  WOERWAG. 

Schatzmeister  des  Deutschen  Hospitals, 

zum  Dank 

fuer  empfangeuen  Neujahrsgruss. 

Mitten  d'rin  in  Zahlenmassen 
Und  in  Milliouenhaufen, 
Wo  Gedanken  mir  erblassen, 
Wirre  in  einander  laufen  ; 
Wo  dem  amien  Alltagsmanne 
Hoeren,  Sehen  schou  vergeht, 
Und  wo  unter  schwerem  Banne 
Die  Verrechnung  schmaehlich  steht. 

Wo  es  gilt,  aus  Thalerbergeu 

Voile  Zinsen  sicher  ziehn, 

Und  kein  Cent  sich  kann  verbergen 

Noch  dem  Rechnerblick  eutfliehn  ; 

Wo  in  langen,  dichten  Reihen 

Zahlenregimenter  stehn, 

Und  gehorsam,  ohne  Schreien — 

Plus  und  minus  wechselnd  gehen. 

Wo  nach  langem  Subtrahiren 
Kurz  regirt  die  Addition, 
Und  auf  schweres  Dividiren 
Folget  Multiplikation  ; 
Wo  in  maecht'geu  Proportionen 
Auch  in  Bruechen  alles  lebt, 
Wo  die  Zahlengeister  wohnen, 
Der  Gedanke  daemmemd  schwebt — 

Da  noch  an  die  Freunde  denken, 

Merken,  dass  ein  altes  Jahr 

Subtrahirt  sich  liess  versenken 

Und  addirt  ein  neues  war  ; 

Da  auch  noch  aus  zartem  Herzen 

Seuden  frohen  Morgengruss, 

Der  zum  Trost  fuer  manche  Schmerzen 

Freundschaftszinsen  bringen  muss — 

Nein,  des  deutet,  recht  verstanden, 
Auf  ein  anderes  Kapital, 
Das  in  Buechem  nicht  vorhanden, 
Auch  nicht  hinter  Stein  und  Stahl ; 


20 


306  MEMOIR  OF  WILUAM  JULIUS  MANN. 

Das  im  warmen  Herzen  feste 
Auf  die  Dau'r  ist  angelegt, 
Und  doch  wahrlich  ist  das  Beste, 
Das  der  Baum  des  Lebens  traegt. 

Segne  Gott  Dich  und  die  Deinen, 
Strahle  seine  Sonne  Dir  ! 
Moege  AUes  sich  vereinen, 
Duftend  Dir  als  Blumenzier  ! 
Reich  an  Aclitung,  Treu  und  Liebe, 
Froh  in  edler  Thaetigkeit, 
Folgend  jedem  heil'gen  Triebe, 
Emte  Zins  der  Ewigkeit ! 
Phila,  Jan.  ist.,  1891. 


UNTER  EIN  BILD  VON  LUTHER 

Bei  Seinem  Eintritt  in  Worms. 

Geb,  Moencblein,  muthig  deinen  Gang, 
Kein  Papst  noch  Teufel  macli'  dir  bang  ! 
Du  ziehst  aus  finst'rem,  schwerem  Graus 
In  Licht  und  Freiheit  trotzig  aus, 
Thust  auf.  Prophet  der  neuen  Zeit, 
Des  Kerkers  Pforten  maechtig  weit, 
Und  laesst  die  Feind  in  Mordbegier 
Die  Zaehne  knirschen  neber  dir  ; 
In  dir  flammt  Gottes  Feuergeist, 
Der  dich's  Panier  aufwerfen  heist ; 
Du  schlaegst  mit  Gottes  Geistes  Schwert 
Die  Geisterschlacht, — bleibst  unversehrt ; 
Und  sandest  aus  zu  Deutschlands  Ruhm 
Der  Welt  das  Evangelium. 
1890. 

CHRISTMAS  RIDDLE. 

Three  syllables,  thou  know'st  them  well, 
Two  words,  thou  often  hadst  to  spell ; 
As  earth  and  sun,  apart  they  stand, 
One  word  holds  them  in  mystic  band. 

My  best  part  in  the  Heavens  dwells, 
Its  boundless  realms  with  glory  swells  ; 
Yet  in  the  lowest  booth  below — 
Yea,  in  thy  heart,  its  light  will  show. 


GELEGENHEITS-GEDICHTE.  307 

My  other  part  on  mountains  high 
Is  found,  where  storms  and  zephyrs  sigh  ; 
Yet  this  day,  in  the  coziest  room, 
May  it  with  fiery  flowers  bloom. 

Behold  my  first  from  Heav'n  descends, 
And  rays  of  light  it  earthward  sends  ; 
My  second  rises  from  the  ground. 
As  if  for  heavenly  regions  bound. 

My  first  mournfully  ceased  to  live 
On  what  my  second  had  to  give  ; 
Yet,  both  united,  brought  me  life 
Out  of  the  deadly,  grievous  strife. 

My  first  to  world  gives  all  its  light. 
Brings  joyous  days  out  of  the  night ; 
My  second  brightly  this  day  shines. 
My  first  one's  glory  it  enshrines. 

My  second  many  merry  faces 

With  glorious  beams  of  light  embraces  ; 

Yet  all  its  glories,  as  they  burst. 

Can  mirror  naught  but  glorious  first. 

Let,  both  united,  this  day  bring 
Joys  holy,  of  which  angels  sing  ; 
My  second's  glory  's  for  to-day, 
My  first  outshines  eternity  ! 
For  the  IVorkman,  Christmas,  1884. 


CHRISTMAS.      ■ 

It  was  a  dream.     On  angel's  wings  through  space 

I  was,  as  in  the  twinkling  of  an  eye. 

Caught  up  to  higher  regions,  infinite. 

Far  down,  below,  in  silent  orbits  moved  the  stars  ; 

There  was  no  sun,  no  moon,  yet  there  was  light, 

And  in  the  light  a  throng  of  heavenly  beings, 

Of  angels,  bright  and  fair,  I  there  beheld. 

And  holy  men  of  venerable  mien 

And  all  aglow  in  Heaven's  holy  joy. 

I  stood  in  awe.     A  stranger  to  those  sights. 
Uneasy  and  embarrassed  as  I  was, 


308  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

I  thought  to  hide  myself  from  heavenly  gaze  ; 

But  there  was  no  escape.     I  was  addressed 

By  one  of  Heaven's  ever  blessed  children, 

Who,  radiant  in  celestial  majesty, 

With  loving  kindness,  dignified,  and  sweet, 

Relieved  my  troubled  mind  and  bade  me  welcome. 

He  pointed  out  to  me  a  group  of  men 

Most  venerable,  bespeaking  in  their  bearing 

The  tale  of  ages,  yet  full  of  youth  and  bliss 

Imperishable,  and  peaceful  joy  and  light. 

He  asked  me  :  Dost  thou  know  those  holy  men  ? 

To  thee,  indeed,  no  strangers  ought  they  be  ; 

Behold,  that  one,  a  noble  man  of  God, 

Of  all  the  faithful  he  the  Father  called, 

Rejoicing  that  he  sees  this  day  arise ; 

And  there  a  hero  great.  His  people's  guide 

Through  waters  deep  and  stony  deserts  drear, 

A  guide,  indeed,  for  all  the  world  beside. 

Proclaiming  God's  eternal  law  ; 

And  there  Elijah,  witness  he  for  God, 

A  host  against  the  raging  powers  of  hell ; 

And  here  behold  the  Prophet,  angel-voiced, 

Whose  eye  enlightened  pierced  the  mist  of  time, 

And  saw  in  ecstasy  divine  the  world's  Redeemer, 

Slain  for  man  and  risen  now  in  glory. 

And  many  such  I  saw  in  that  great  throng. 


I  stood  in  humble  reverence  amazed. 

At  once  a  flood  of  light  encompassed  all ; 

From  spheres  still  higher  came  a  countless  throng 

Of  beings,  etherial,  angelic  hosts. 

All  floating  on  in  the  eff"ulgent  light. 

A  sight  no  human  language  can  portray, 

No  ages  from  the  memory  efface  : 

Their  guide  led  on,  angel  of  angels  he. 

All  brilliant,  clothed  about  with  lightning's  light, 

But  mild  and  sweet  in  all  his  glory. 

And,  passing  on,  this  heavenly  army  vast, 

'Twixt  countless  stars  e'en  took  their  route  sublime. 

The  path,  from  which,  a  pilgrim  of  the  earth, 

I  came.     There  was  no  longer  resting  here ; 

Those  holy  men  and  the  assembly  great 

Of  Heaven's  citizens  all  followed  straight 

The  angels'  chorus  and  their  leader  bright. 


GELEGENHEITS-GEDICHTE.  309 

There  was  this  earth — O  what  a  dreary-  place  ! 

All  dark  and  cold.     But  now  the  heavenly  light 

Illumining,  broke  through  the  darkness  drear. 

There  was  the  Holy  Land,  and  there  'twixt  hills 

Lay  Bethlehem  the  City  of  the  King, 

All  slumbering ;  but  on  the  silent  fields 

Were  shepherds,  guarding  flocks  and  watching  stars. 

And  now  that  angel  guide  came  nigh  to  them 

And  spoke  the  sweetest  and  the  grandest  words 

That  ever  came  from  creature  lips  to  the  Creator's  praise, 

Destroying  fear,  proclaiming  joy  and  love 

In  wait  for  all  the  world,  announcing  there 

The  greatest  fact,  of  which  all  ages  know, 

Yes,  earth  and  heaven  can  tell,  that  there 

In  Bethlehem  was  born,  and  in  the  manger  lay 

That  Child  of  David's  house,  that  King  of  kings, 

The  Saviour  of  the  lost  and  sin-sick  world. 


And  now  a  song  from  countless  angel  hosts 

Broke  forth,  resounding  through  Heaven's  endless  halls 

And  swelling  on  in  volumed  melodies, 

Filling  the  upper  world  with  sweeter  sounds, 

Than  ever  God  and  angels  heard  before. 

Now  near  and  overw'helming  like  a  wave, 

Then  sweetly,  gently,  mild  and  musical. 

Resounding  froin  heaven's  furthermost  recess  ; 

And  unseen  angel  hosts  divine,  enraptured  now 

With  joy  unspeakable,  broke  forth,  the  echo 

Answering  from  the  hills  and  walls  of  Bethlehem 

That  song  of  songs :  Glory  to  God  on  High, 

Peace  be  on  earth  and  all  good-will  to  men ! 


O,  that  those  voices  of  celestial  harmonies 

Had  never  ceased  to  ring  ! 

O,  that  my  dream  had  lasted  without  end ! 

But  I  awoke.     It  was  still  night  on  earth, 

The  earthly  bells  from  lofty  towers  began 

With  ringing  sounds  to  wake  the  land,  the  town, 

The  sleepers  all  to  joyous  Christmas  morn. 

I  saw  the  lights  round  many  a  Christmas  tree. 

The  radiant  faces  of  the  children  dear, 

The  parents,  brothers,  sisters,  happy  friends, 

I  felt  that  light  was  breaking  on  this  world. 


310  MEMOIR  OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

Let  there  be  light !    And  every  ray  of  light 
A  message  welcome  from  Almighty  God — 
Our  every  gift  reflect  the  gift  of  gifts, 
Each  Christmas  tree  set  forth  the  Tree  of  Life, 
And  every  smile  be  glad  with  joy  divine  ; 
And  all  ye  snow-flakes  turn  to  rosy  buds 
Of  greeting  for  the  Child  in  lowly  Bethl'm's  stall ! 
Philadelphia,  December  25, 1888. 


LIST  OF  DR.  MANN'S  PUBLICATIONS. 


1S43.  ^^^  Dom  in   Mailand.      Jugendblaetter  von   Dr.    Barth   & 

Haenel.     (March,  1843.) 
1S45.  Die  Ansiedler  in  America.     Stuttgart.     Steinkopf. 

184S-1859.     Contributions  to  the  Kirchenfreund. 

1848.  Die  Kirche  der  Gegenwart  (nine  articles  from  Feb.,  1848,  to 

July,  1849.) — Der  gengenwaertige  Zustand  Deutschlands 
vom  historisch-politischen  Standpunct  aus  betrachtet. 

1849.  Ein  Weihnachtstraum. — Bibelbilder. 

1850.  Neujahrsepistel  an  den  Kirchenfreund. — Die  Deutsche  Presse 

in  America. — Das  neue  Lutherische  Gesangbuch. — Geistige 
Brosamlein.  — Kirchliche  Tendenzen  und  ihre  Gegner. — 
Die  Einwanderung. 

1851.  Neuere  Kirchliche  Organisationversuche  in  Deutschland. — 

Das    Mystische   im   Glauben   und   die   Aufklaerung. — Die 
♦  deutsche  Theologie  der  Gegenwart  und  ihr  Einfluss — Saat 

und  Ernte.  Gen.  8,  22. — Die  Zukunft  der  protestantischen 
Kirche. 

1852.  Desjahr  1851. — Deutsche  Notstaende  im  der  neuen  Welt. — 

Universitaeten    und    ihre    Bedeutung     fuers    ceffentliche 
Leben. — Clans  Harms'  Selbstbiographie. 
l853'  Jacob  Bcehme,  der  teutonische  Theosoph  (4  articles.) — Litur- 

gie  oder  freies  Gebet  beim  ceflFentlichen  Gottesdienst  ? 

1854.  An   unsere   Leser. — Rundschau. — Buecherschau. — Am   Grab 

des  Herm. — Ordinationsthesen. — Das  Synodal  wesen. — 
Aphorismen  ueber  die  Nacht. — America  und  die  Deutschen. 
— Schelling. 

1855.  Rundschau. — Kirchliche  Armen   und  Krankenpflege. — Ver- 

schmelzung  national  er  Eigentuemlichkeiten. — Himmel- 
fahrts-Gedanken. — Die  Bibliotheca  Sacra  und  die  Pastoren 
in  Deutschland. — Blsetter  aus  dem  Wanderbuche. — Vom 
ungerechten  Haushalter. — Der  Augsburger  Religionsfriede 
1555. — Gemeinden  und  Singchoere. 

1856.  Rundschau. — Blaetter  aus  dem  Wanderbuche. — Das  Vermie- 

ten  von  Kirchenstuehlen. — Deutsche  und  Englische 
Sprache. — Kirchlicher  und  religioeser  Standpunct  Wuert- 

3" 


313  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

tembergs. — Die  Heilige  Schrift  ein  Ganzes. — Die  Fortset- 
zung  des  Theologischen  Studiums  ein  Beduerfniss  fuer  den 
Evangelischen  Prediger. — Zur  Geschichte  der  Confirma- 
tion. 

1857.  Rundschau. — Der  Zinsgroschen. — Christfest  und  The  Amer- 

ican Presbyterian. — Miraniida. — Christentum  und  Theater. 
— Der  Pastor  und  sein  Umgang. — Jacobi  i,  25. — Pastoral- 
Conferenzen. — Gedanken  zur  Lehre  von  der  Kirche. — Der 
Pastor  und  die  Kranken. 

1858.  Rundschau. — Die  Deutsche  Reformirte  Kirche  und  die  Lit- 

urgische  Frage. — Kalender. — Katechese. — Die  gegenwaer- 
tige  religioese  Bewegung. — Gedankeugang  von  Rom.  I,  11. 
— Das  heilige  Land  und  die  Gegenwart. — Zur  Confirma- 
tionsfrage. — Amt,  Stand  und  Person  des  Predigers. — Brand 
des  Schiffes  Austria. — Deutsche  Bettler  in  America. 

1859.  Rundschau. — Religion,  Natur  und  Ehe. — Einfluss  der  evan- 

gelischen Predigt  der  Gegenwart. — Ein  edler  Einwanderer. 
Die  europaeische  Kriegsfrage,  Die  evangelische  Kirchen- 
Zeitung  und  der  Umschv^ung  der  Dinge  in  Preussen. — Ein 
Besucli  in  Economy. — Die  Sonntags  Frage. — Schiller. — 
Aus  der  Geschichte  der  Juden  nach  Christo. — Abschied. 

1849.  Universal   History. — Introduction.     Translated  by  J.  S.  E. 

(Ermentrout. )     Mercersburg  Review.     (3  Articles. ) 

1850.  Ecclesiastical  Tendencies. — Mercersburg  Review.     Immigra- 

tion.— Mercersburg  Review.     Sermon  preached  in  Salem's 
German  Reformed  Church. 
1853.  Review  of  Cardinal  "Wiseman's  Lectures  on  the  Principle, 

Doctrines  and  Practices  of  the  Catholic  Church. — Evan- 
gelical Review.     (April.) 

1855.  Mormonen — Article  in  Herzog's  Real-Encyclopaedia. 

1856.  A  Plea  for  the  Augsburg  Confession,  in  answer  to  the  objec- 

tions of  the  Definite  Platform,  etc.  For  the  Lutheran 
Board  of  Publication.     Philadelphia,  Lindsay  &  Blakiston. 

1857.  Lntheranism  in  America  :  an  essay  on  the  present  condition 

of  the  Lutheran  Church  in  the  United  States. 
"  Dr.  Schmucker's  Symbols.     Article  in  the  Evangelical  Re- 

view, April. 
1859.  Johann    Christoph    Frederich    Schiller  in   Schiller- Album. 

Schsefer  &  Koradi.     Phila. 
*'  Ibid.     Six  Sonnets  on  Schiller. 

i860.  Lebensbilder  vom  Missionsfeld.     Lutheran  Board  of  Publi- 

cation. 
1860-1892.     Contributions  to  Lutherische  Zeitschrift,  afterwards  Herold 
&  Zeitschrift. 
Contributions  to  the  Jugendfreund. 


PUBLICATIONS.  3x3 

1863.  Dr.  Carl  Rudolph  Demme.     Funeral  Address.     Philadelphia. 

C.  \V.  Widmaier. 
1863-1865.     Contributions    to     Evangelische    Zeugnisse,    a    Homiletical 

monthly  published  by  Ig.  Kohler,  Philadelphia. 
1S63.  Luther's  Kleiner  Katechismus,  erklrert  in  Fragen  und  Ant- 

worten,  zum  Gebrauch  in  Kirche,  Schule  uud  Haus  (W.  J. 

Mann  and  G.  F.  Krotel). 

1864.  Edition  of  Kohler's  Family  Bible. 

1866.  Contributions  to  Lutheran  and  Missionary. 

"  Festgruss  zum  Zions-Jubiloeum.     Philadelphia.     G.  W.  Wid- 

maier. 

1868.  Dr.  K.  F.  E.  Stohlman.     Funeral  Address.     ALso  Memorial 

in  ' '  Lutherische  Herold. ' ' 

1S68-1873.     Contributions   to    Rev.    S.    K.   Brobst's  Theologische  Mon- 
atshefte. 

1868.  Was  ist  das  Fundamentale  im  Christenthum  ?    Thesen  und 

Referat. 

1869.  Blick  in  die  Zeit. 

1870.  Welche  Bedeutung  hat  die  Stelle,  Matth.  18  :  15-17,  fuer  die 

Frage  der  Kirchenzucht. 

1872.  Sensations-Predigten. 

1873.  Dr.  Strauss  und  der  neue  Glaube. 

"  Der  Zeitgeist  der  Gegenwart  und  sein  Einfluss  auf  die  Er- 

ziehung. 
1872.  Der     Deutsch-Franzoesische      Krieg.       Philadelphia.       Ig. 

Kohler. 

1872.  General  Principles  of  Christian  Ethics  :  the  first  part  of  the 

system  of  Christian  ethics  by  Chr.  F.  Schmid,  D.D.     Phila- 
delphia.    The  Lutheran  Book  Store. 

1873.  The  Great  Reformation.     The  Lutheran  Book  Store.     Phila- 

delphia.     Address    at    the    Reformation-Festival    of   the 
Seminary.     (  Delivered  in  German.) 
1S78.  Preface  to   Benjamin   Franklin's  Autobiography.     Philadel- 

phia.    Ig.  Kohler. 

1878.  Theses  on  the  Lutheranism  of  the   Fathers  of  the  Church  in 

this  Countrj'.     (  Proceedings  of  First  Lutheran  Diet.) 

1879.  Vergangene  Tage.     Aus  den  Zeiten  des  Patriarchen  Dr.  H. 

M.  Muhlenbergs.     Vortrag  bei  der  Reformationsfeier  des 

Seminars. 
18S0.  Sketch  of  Dr.  Chas.  F.  Schaefer.     Memorial.     Published  by 

the  Alumni  Association. 
i88r.  Heilsbotschaft.    Philadelphia.    Im  Verlag  des  Waisenhauses. 

1882.  Leben  und  Wirken  William  Penns.     Reading.     Pilger  Book 

store. 
"  Contributions  to  the  SchaflF-Herzog   Encyclopedia:   Kunze, 


314  MEMOIR   OF  WILLIAM  JULIUS   MANN. 

John  Christopher ;  Lotze,  Hermann  Rudolph  ;  Muhlen- 
berg, Heinrich  Melchior ;  Schaeffer,  Charles  Frederick  ; 
Schmucker,  Samuel  Simon  ;  Theological  Seminary,  Phila- 
delphia, 

1882.  Ein  Aufgang  im  Abendland.    Reading.    Pilger  Book  store. 

1884.  Die  gute  alte  Zeit. 

•«  Das  Buch  der  Buecher  und  seine  Geschichte.     Reading. 

Pilger  Book  Store. 

1884.  Abschieds-Predigt    am   16  Nov.  1884.       Der  Gemeinde  zur 

freundlichen  Erinnerung  gewidmet. 

1886.  Hallesche  Nachrichten.       i   Volume.     Allentown.       T.  H. 

Diehl. 

1887.  Life  and  Times  ,of  Henry  Melchior  Muhlenberg.     Philadel- 

phia.    G.  W.  Frederick. 

1888.  Die  persoenliche  Freiheit.     Tract. 

1889.  Baptismal  Regeneration.     Tract. 
1880-1891.     Contributions  to  the  Workman. 

1 882-189 1.  Contributions  to  the  Lutheran  Church  Review. 

1882.  Suicide. — Russia, 

1883.  A  Sign  of  the  Times. 

1884.  Benedict  de  Spinoza. — East   India  and   its   Religious  Pros- 

pects. 

1885.  Unsound  Devotional  Literature.     Geo.  H.  A.  Ewald. 

18S7.  Psychological     Questions. — Lutherans    in    America     before 

Muhlenberg. 

1888.  The    Conservatism  of   H.    M.     Muhlenberg. — Bishop    von 

Scheele's  Symbolik. 

1889.  Human   Mind  versus  The  Universe. — Questions  in  Ethics. 

1890.  Albrecht  Ritschl  and  his  Theology,  (  four  articles.) 

1890.  Contributions  to  American  Church    Review    (New   York.) 

Church  Union. 

1891.  An  Ordination  Certificate  of  the  time  of  Muhlenberg. 
"  Christoph  Columbus.     Philadelphia.     Ig.  Kohler. 

"  Heinrich  Melchior  Muhlenberg's  Leben  und  Wirken.     Phil- 

adelphia, Pa.     Pastor  A.  Hellwege.     Roxborough. 


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